“This doesn't show that there is anything wrong with our theoretical understanding, any more than the intuition that the Earth is at rest shows that there must be something theoretically wrong with Copernicanism, or the intuition that time is moving shows that there is something theoretically wrong with the block universe 'B series' view of change.” ShowsEarthMovingUniverseUnderstandingViewsSeriesIntuitionBlockTheoretical Author:David Papineau
“The orthodox view of colour experience assumes that, when we see a colour difference between two surfaces viewed side-by-side, this is because we have different responses to each of the two surfaces viewed singly. Since we can detect colour differences between something like ten million different surfaces, this implies that we are capable of ten million colour responses to surfaces viewed singly.” TwoDifferentSidesDifferencesViewsMillionsTenCapableAssumingResponseSurfaceColourOrthodox Author:David Papineau
“There is a brain mechanism that works to identify colour differences directly, without first identifying the absolute colour of each surface. So on my view there is no reason to suppose anything like ten million colour responses to surface viewed singly.” FirstsReasonDifferencesViewsBrainMillionsTenAbsolutesResponseSurfaceColourNo ReasonMechanismIdentifying Author:David Papineau
“I think my view is rather more radical than Pete Mandik's. Both of us want to show that colour perception doesn't transcend what can be conceptualized, but I don't think he goes so far as to deny that it doesn't involve different responses to all the discriminable surfaces.” ThinkingWantDifferentShowsViewsPerceptionResponseDenySurfaceRadicalColour Author:David Papineau
“On the methodological issue, I think that would be hopeless to try to adjudicate between my view and orthodoxy by appeal to phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brain mechanisms.” ThinkingKnowsNeedsTryingWould BeViewsBrainIssuesAppealsHopelessMechanismIntrospectionOrthodoxy Author:David Papineau
“Again, when we view a scene fleetingly, do we consciously see all the details even though we don't retain them, or do we not see them in the first place? Neurological information is crucial to deciding these questions. After all, they are so interesting precisely because unaided introspection cannot resolve them. Rather we need to know what is going on in the brain activities that constitute visual awareness.” KnowsNeedsFirstsInterestingViewsBrainAwarenessInformationSceneActivityDetailsVisualsResolveCrucialIntrospection Author:David Papineau
“I rather incline towards 'conceptualism', in line with my view of colour perception - I don't think that we can represent objects and properties for which we have no concepts, not even in perceptual experience. In this sense I differ from those who defend 'non-conceptual content' like Michael Tye and Chris Peacocke.” ThinkingLinesViewsObjectsPerceptionConceptsPropertyColourIncline Author:David Papineau
“The relevant features of scientific practice often have mundane explanations which don't point to any deep metaphysical moral. (Thus it would simply be messy and pointless for the chemists to essay physical reductions, or for the biologists to offer number-free explanations. It's a weird kind of science-worship that views these practical considerations as clues to the nature of reality.)” KindRealityViewsNumbersMoralPracticeOffersWorshipPracticalsFeaturesExplanationConsiderationRelevantMetaphysicalClueEssaysMessyMundanePointlessReductionBiologistChemist Author:David Papineau
“I favour an interpretation of quantum mechanics (the 'Everett interpretation') according to which reality branches in any chancy quantum situation. On this view, Schrödinger's set-up will give rise to in two future branches of reality, one with a live cat, and one with a dead cat - and the talk of '50% chances' just indicates that the two branches are both equally real futures of the cat that originally entered the box.” GivingTwoRealRealityChanceViewsSituationCatBoxesBranchesInterpretationQuantumFavourMechanicQuantum Mechanics Author:David Papineau
