The Physical World and Its Perception: Phenomenology and Analytic Philosophy

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Closing Conference of the DFG Emmy-Noether Project “A Sensible World”

The Physical World and Its Perception:
Phenomenology and Analytic Philosophy

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 18-19 June 2026

The aim of this conference is to explore the nature of physical reality, the way the various macro- and microscopic layers of physical reality are constituted and structured, and to what extent perception provides faithful access to the physical world. Topics to be addressed include metaphysical issues about the mind-(in)dependent existence of sensory qualities, the distinction between primary and secondary qualities (and possible differences in their perception), the relations of foundation between sensory qualities and subperceptual aspects of physical reality, the reliability of sensory contents for our cognition of the physical world, and, more generally, naive realism and competing metaphysical accounts of physical reality. The guiding idea is that a dialogue between phenomenology and analytic philosophy on these questions will be fruitful and mutually enriching, as there are important points of contact between these two traditions, in particular regarding the description and vindication of our ordinary experience of the physical world.

Programme

Thursday, 18 June

09:15-09:30 Welcome and Opening Remarks
09:30-10:45 Michelle Montague (UT Austin)
Presentational Phenomenology and Descriptive Metaphysics
11:00-12:15 Walter Hopp (Boston University)
Phenomenological Exceptionalism
13:45-15:00 Christian Beyer (Göttingen)
Husserl’s View of Perceptual Content and Justification
15:15-16:30 James Jardine (HU Berlin)
Revisiting Husserl’s Account of Colour Constancy
16:45-18:00 Galen Strawson (UT Austin)
Real Direct Realism: Charles Augustus Strong

Friday, 19 June

09:30-10:45 Bill Brewer (KCL)
What are the Primary Qualities?
11:00-12:15 Thomas Crowther (Warwick)
Events and the Primary-Secondary Quality Distinction
13:45-15:00 Hamid Taieb (FU/HU Berlin)
Colours: Phenomenology and Analytic Philosophy
15:15-16:30 Louise Richardson (University of York)
Structural Features and Naïve Realism
16:45-18:00 Mark Eli Kalderon (UCL)
Perceptual Pragmatism and Objectivity

Venue: Room 2249a, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden 6, 10117 Berlin
Attendance: Registration mandatory, please write to [email protected]  
Organiser: Hamid Taieb ([email protected])
For more information: www.a-sensible-world.net

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