IngentaConnect The Perception of Time and the Notion of a Point of View

Author: Hoerl, Christoph¹

Source: European Journal of Philosophy, Volume 6, Number 2, August 1998 , pp. 156-171(16)

Abstract:

The aim of this paper is to investigate the temporal content of perceptual experience. I argue for a view according to which we must recognize the existence of perceptions the content of which cannot be spelled out simply by looking at what is the case at an isolated instant. Acts of apprehension can cover a succession of events. Howev er, a subject who has such perceptions can still fall short of having a concept of time. I compare this with arguments which have been put forward to show that a subject who has spatial perceptions can fall short of having a concept of space. In both cases, it is the fact that perception is from a point of view which stands in the way of it constituting an exercise of a concept of how things are objectively. However, I also show that the way in which perception is perspectival takes a different form in each of the two cases.

Keywords: perception; content; time; specious present; point of view

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1111/1468-0378.00056

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, England C.hoerl@warwick.ac.uk

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