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Quote by 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.”

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David Papineau

David Papineau is a British philosopher known for his contributions to metaphysics, epistemology, and philosophy of language. His research spans across various fields, including philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, and moral philosophy. more

“The 'phenomenal concept' issue is rather different, I think. Here the question is whether there are concepts of experiences that are made available to subjects solely in virtue of their having had those experiences themselves. Is there a way of thinking about seeing something red, say, that you get from having had those experiences, and so isn't available to a blind person?”

Thinking Way Persons Made Different Virtue Issues Seeing Subjects Concepts Red Blind Available Way Of Thinking Phenomenal Blind Person

Author:David Papineau

“After all, in supporting phenomenal concepts I am in a sense siding with introspection against the more behaviourist Wittgensteinians. But even so I don't think that introspection is powerful enough to resolve the specific issue about how many colours you can see.”

Thinking Enough Powerful Issues Concepts Colour Resolve Introspection Phenomenal Siding

Author:David Papineau

“I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brain mechanisms as well. We need to figure out what information is present in the mechanisms that constitute conscious colour perception.”

Thinking Knows Needs Wells Brain Figures Information Perception Conscious Colour Mechanism Introspection

Author:David Papineau

“If neuroscientific research shows that those mechanisms only contain comparative information about colour differences, and have 'thrown away' more fine-grained information about the absolute colours of single surfaces, then that would support my position, in a way that just introspecting our colour experiences can't.”

Ifs Way Shows Differences Support Information Position Fine Research Absolutes Surface Colour Thrown Mechanism Scientific Research

Author:David Papineau

“The use of neuroscientific data to help resolve phenomenological questions is proving a common theme in much contemporary thinking about the mind. How rich are the contents of visual perception? Does vision only tell us about shapes and colours, or does it also represent higher categories like lemon or umbrella?”

Thinking Mind Doe Helping Use Common Vision Rich Higher Shapes Prove Perception Contemporary Data Theme Visuals Colour Resolve Categories Lemons Umbrella Visual Perception

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.”

Knows Needs Firsts Interesting Views Brain Awareness Information Scene Activity Details Visuals Resolve Crucial Introspection

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.”

Thinking Lines Views Objects Perception Concepts Property Colour Incline

Author:David Papineau

“A certain kind of methodologically-minded philosopher of science is quick to read off metaphysical conclusions from features of scientific practice. Chemists don't derive their laws from fundamental physics, so reductive physicalism must be false. Biologists refer to natural numbers in some of their explanations, so numbers must exist. I think that this kind of thing makes for bad philosophy.”

Thinking Kind Philosophy Law Certain Natural Numbers Practice Fundamentals Philosopher Physics Conclusion Features Explanation Metaphysical Biologist Chemist

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.)”

Kind Reality Views Numbers Moral Practice Offers Worship Practicals Features Explanation Consideration Relevant Metaphysical Clue Essays Messy Mundane Pointless Reduction Biologist Chemist

Author:David Papineau

“Fortune is like the market, where, many times, if you can stay a little, the price will fall.”

Ifs Littles Values Fall Business Fate Fortune Commerce

Book:The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, Lord High Chancellor of England ...: With Several Additional Pieces, Never Before Printed in Any Edition of His Works. To which is Prefixed, a New Life of the Author

Source: The Works of Francis Bacon, Baron of Verulam, Viscount St. Alban, Lord High Chancellor of England ...: With Several Additional Pieces, Never Before Printed in Any Edition of His Works. To which is Prefixed, a New Life of the Author

Quote by David Papineau

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