WV-PSY-408

WV-PSY-408 Philosophy of Perception

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Professor Steven Lehar

Course Description

This course introduces the philosophy of perception, with particular emphasis on the epistemological issue of direct perception v.s. representationalism. The course traces the epistemologial question from Descartes, through Locke, Berkeley, Kant, Bertrand Russell, Wolfgang Köhler, on to J. J. Gibson, David Chalmers, and Daniel Dennett.

Prerequisites

WV-PSY-104 Gestalt psychology from Wikiversity, or equivalent from an accredited academic institution.

Protocol

This is a remote electronic correspondence course. All communication between student and professor take place electronically. The course does not have fixed start and end times, but can be done on a schedule at the student's convenience, as long as it is completed within one year of initial registration. The course is divided into four sections, each of which has required readings, a short paper, and a short quiz. A final longer paper, and a final exam, will be scheduled at the end of the last section. Extra consideration will be given to students who not only meet the requirements and submit the work, but who also exhibit a thorough understanding of the significance of Gestalt theory, and/or express creative concepts and observations that advance Gestalt theory. Students with publications on Gestalt topics in peer reviewed journals, or with impressive computer simulations, will also be given additional consideration.

Tuition

Total cost $1000 divided into 5 payments of $200. The first payment is due to register for the course, and subsequent payments are due with submission of the papers, computer simulations, and exams, at the end of each of the four sections of the course. Final grades and official transcript information will be released within 3 weeks of submission of the final requirements, and posted on the professor's Wikiversity web site.

Grading

• A: Student meets the course requirements, and additionally demonstrates a thorough understanding of the principles and significance of Gestalt theory, with original contributions to the advancement of Gestalt psychology.

• B: Student meets the course requirements, and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the principles of Gestalt theory.

• C: Student meets the course requirements, and demonstrates an adequate understanding of the principles of Gestalt theory.

• D: Student meets course requirements, and demonstrates some understanding of the principles of Gestalt theory.

• F: Student does not meet course requirement, and/or cannot demonstrate understanding of the principles of Gestalt theory.

Readings

• Bisiach E. & Luzzatti C. (1978) Unilateral Neglect of Representational Space. Cortex 14, 129-133.
• Bisiach E., Luzzatti C., & Perani D. (1979) Unilateral Neglect, Representational Schema and Consciousness. Brain 102, 609-618.
• Block N. (1981) Imagery. Cambridge MA: MIT Press.
• Boring E. G. (1933) The Dimensions of Consciousness. New York: Dover.
• Davidson D. (1970) Mental Events. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Denis M. & Cocude M. (1989) Scanning Visual Images Generated from Verbal Descriptions. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology 1, 293-307.
• Dennett D. C. (1981) The Nature of Images and the Introspective Trap. In N. Block (Ed.) Imagery, Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 51-61.
• Drake D., Lovejoy A. O., Pratt J. B., Rogers A. K., Santayana G., Sellars R. W., & Strong C. A. (1920) Essays in Critical Realism: A co-operative study of the problem of knowledge. New York: Gordian Press.
• Chalmers, D. J. (1995) Facing Up to the Problems of Consciousness. Journal of Consciousness Studies 2 (3) 200-219. Reprinted in "Toward a Science of Consciousness II, The Second Tucson Discussions and Debates". (1996) S. R. Hameroff, A. W. Kaszniak, & A. C. Scott (Eds.) Cambridge MA: MIT Press, 5-28.
• Feigl H. (1958) The Mental and the Physical. Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. 2, H. Feigl & M. Scriven (Eds.) Minneapolis Minnesota: University of Minnesota Press.
• Kim, JAEGWON (1998) Mind in a physical world. MIT Press.
• Pylyshyn, Zenon W. The imagery debate: Analogue media versus tacit knowledge. IN:Readings in cognitive science:A perspective from psychology and artificial intelligence. Allan M. Collins, Ed; Edward E. Smith, Ed; et al. Morgan Kaufmann, Inc, San Mateo, CA, USA. 1988. p. 600-614 of ix, 661 pp.
• Pylyshyn, Zenon W. The imagery debate: Analogue media versus tacit knowledge. Psychological Review, 1981 Jan, v88 (n1):16-45.
• Ramachandran V. S. & Blakeslee S. (1998) "Phantoms in the Brain: Probing the mysteries of the human mind." New York: William Morrow.
• Schilder, Paul (1950) "The Image and Appearance of the Human Body; Studies in the constructive energies of the psyche." New York: International University Press.
• Schilder, Paul (1942) "Mind: Perception and Thought in their Constructive Aspects" New York: Columbia University Press.
• Smythies J. (1953) The experience and description of the human body. Brain, 76; 132-148.
• Smythies J. (1999) Consciousness: Some basic issues - a neurophysiological perspective. Consciousness & Cognition 8, 164-172.
• Tye M. (1995) "Ten problems of consciousness." MIT Press
• Locke J. (1690/1959) An Essay Concerning Human Understanding. 2 Vols. A. C. Fraser (Ed.) Oxford UK: Clarendon. Reprinted 1959 New York: Dover.
• Nagel T. (1974) What Is It Like to Be a Bat? Philosophical Review 83 435-450
• Russell B. (1921) The Analysis of Mind. New York: MacMilan; London: George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
• Russell B. (1927) Philosophy. New York: W. W. Norton.
• Shepard R. N. & Metzler J. (1971) Mental Rotation of Three-Dimensional Objects. Science 171 (972) 701-701.