Seeing, Doing, and Knowing A Philosophical Theory of Sense Perception [Hardcover]

Seeing, Doing, and Knowingis an original and comprehensive philosophical treatment of sense perception as it is currently investigated by cognitive neuroscientists. Its central theme is the task-oriented specialization of sensory systems across the biological domain; these systems coevolve with an organism's learning and action systems, providing the latter with classifications of external objects in terms of sensory categories purpose--built for their need. On the basis of this central idea, Matthen presents novel theories of perceptual similarity, content, and realism. His work will be a stimulating resource for a wide range of scholars and students across philosophy and psychology.

Introduction
Part I: Classification
1. The Sensory Classification Thesis
2. Sensory Classification: the View from Psychology
3. Sensory Concepts
Part II: Similarity
4. The Sensory Ordering Thesis
5. The Sources of Sensory Similarity
Part III: Specialization
6. Perceptual Specialization and the Definition of Colour
7. The Disunity of Colour
8. Pluralistic Realism
Part IV: Content
9. Sensing and Doing
10. Sense Experience
11. The Semantic Theory of Colour Experience
Part V: Reference
12. Visual Objects
13. Visual Reference
Conclusion

...Matthen has many fascinating things to say...It is important to state up front, though, that much of the value of this book lies in the technical details. Matthen is a first-class philosopher with an imposing command of the scientific literature. --Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Mohan Matthen'sSeeing, Doing and Knowingis an impressive and important contribution to the philosophy of perception, and an empirically informed attempt to understand intentionality and its objects by appealing to biological function.... Matthen's book is extremely stimulating. Any philosopher ilCx