To err is to perceive

            As we are each brought into this world, we are born with a multitude of mechanisms with which we can use as tools of examination.  The natural environment is littered with all mannerisms of different real and non-real objects, and how ever we choose to perceive them is entirely up to an individual’s unique sensations.  Humans like to think that they posses senses of perception that are infallible; however, there exists a “paradox of perception.”  This paradox illustrates the problem of sensation and perception with the following question:  If sensory systems in human anatomy are the only mechanism by which we can experience the natural world, then how do we know that we can actually fully experience this world if there exists certain kinds of recognized “perceptual error?”  Problems such as Illusion and Hallucinations are the problematic entities that fall under the category of this “perceptual error.”

            On the first few days of class, we each had to ask a philosophical question that had always fascinated us.  The question that I asked specifically dealt with the color of the chalkboard, and shall serve as an example in this discussion of sensation and perception.  A perceptual illusion is defined as any perceptual situation in which an object is perceived, but that object appears as in another state.  For example, the chalkboard from my example in class is green; however, if one was to see that same object only at night then one may think that the chalkboard in question was actually grey or black.  This example illustrates a kind of deception that has occurred with the perceptual abilities of a hypothetical individual.  Due to this “perceptual error” it could be concluded that the things of which we are perceptually aware are not the ordinary objects that we, in fact, believe them to be.

            In addition to illusion, another “perceptual error” is the argument of Hallucination.  Like a thirsty person who has been walking in the desert for four days without water, a Hallucination would be similar to that person perceiving an oasis in the middle of the desert complete with a nice water bar and any other physical necessity that the human body must have for survival.  Generally defined, a Hallucination is an experience that seems exactly like a real, mind-independent object, but where there is no real object being perceived.  For example, one could visualize the green chalkboard in Dr. Dow’s philosophy classroom at this very instant.  While this mental image is in the hypothetical person’s mind, the chalkboard is not any less real than its physical counterpart; however, there is a difference. 

            There are a number of theories that endeavor to respond to the aforementioned problems of perception; however, there is one theory in particular which is quite intriguing:  The Sense-Datum Theory.  This theory claims that experience depends upon objects, but it denies that those objects are the ordinary mind-independent objects which individuals normally take themselves to be experiencing.  Due to the problems of perception, Sense-Datum Theorists have devolved the sense-datum idea which is defined as any object of experience that is given to the senses.  When in the case of an illusion, an object appears to have a property which it actually does not possess; Sense-datum Theorists claim that instead of that actual object having that property it is really the sense-datum.  Due to the paradox of perception, the Sense-Datum Theory is the only manner in which we can truly perceive the world, and also helps to alleviate the problems of perception.  Is perception an accurate manner by which to observe the world?