Perception And Action: Alternative Views

Author: Hurley S.

Source: Synthese, Volume 129, Number 1, October 2001 , pp. 3-40(38)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

A traditional view of perception and action makes two assumptions: that the causal flow between perception and action is primarily linear or one-way, and that they are merely instrumentally related to each other, so that each is a means to the other. Either or both of these assumptions can be rejected. Behaviorism rejects the instrumental but not the one-way aspect of the traditional view, thus leaving itself open to charges of verificationism. Ecological views reject the one-way aspect but not the instrumental aspect of the traditional view, so that perception and action are seen as instrumentally interdependent. It is argued here that a better alternative is to reject both assumptions, resulting in a two-level interdependence view in which perception and action co-depend on dynamically circular subpersonal relations and as a result may be more than merely instrumentally interdependent. This is illustrated by reference to motor theories of perception and control theories of action.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: University of Warwick PAIS Coventry CV4 7AL United Kingdom

Publication date: 2001-10-01