Cognitive penetration: why do some top-down effects matter more than others?

Zoe Drayson (Australian National University)

Tues 18 Feb, 5.00pm
Room 243, second floor, Senate House, WC1

Zoe Drayson (Stirling)

Cognitive penetration: why do some top-down effects matter more than others?

Abstract: Perception is said to be cognitively penetrable when the contents of our perceptual experiences depend on what we believe or expect. The cognitive penetrability of perception and perception’s susceptibility to top-down effects are often equated in the literature, but closer examination reveals that not all top-down effects on perception seem to have the same epistemic consequences as standard cases of cognitive penetration. This paper explores the variety and significance of top-down effects, with a view to evaluating the epistemological impact of the new 'predictive' models of perception (e.g. Clark 2013, Hohwy 2013).
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If you would like to have dinner with the speaker on the evening of their talk please contact the LEM convenor, Dr Corine Besson: [email protected]

Spring 2014 Series: http://goo.gl/VjrHTp

Co-convenors: Dr Corine Besson (Sussex) and Robert Bassett.