Alfredo Vernazzani - Perceptual Discrimination and Necessary Laws of Appearance

Alfredo Vernazzani (Dortmund University, University of Pittsburgh)

The Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh invites you to join us for our Lunch Time Talk. Attend in person at 1117 Cathedral of Learning or visit our live stream on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.

LTT:  Alfredo Vernazzani

Friday, October 30th @ 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm EST

Title:  Perceptual Discrimination and Necessary Laws of Appearance

Abstract:

Perceptual experience varies dramatically across sensory modalities and species. Humans, sharks, butterflies, and countless other animals inhabit perceptual worlds structured by radically different sensory capacities. Does this diversity imply that the ways things appear are governed entirely by contingent laws? I argue that it does not. Beneath the contingent diversity of perceptual modalities lie metaphysically necessary laws governing appearance itself. I ground this claim in the operations of perceptual discrimination. First, I argue that the exercise of perceptual discrimination capacities is necessary for things to appear. I then advance three necessary laws of appearance grounded in those operations. These laws identify aspects of appearance that remain invariant across differences in sensory modality and species, distinguishing necessary constraints from the contingent forms appearance takes in particular perceptual systems. I illustrate this proposal by turning to non-human perception, focusing on sharks’ and rays’ electroception. This case shows how the proposed laws can apply to sensory modalities radically alien to human experience while not depending on any particular sensory mechanism. I conclude by situating this account within the recent debate over whether all laws of appearance are contingent.

This talk will also be available live streamed on:

Zoom at  TBA

YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRp47ZMXD7NXO3a9Gyh2sg.