Introspection, Epiphenomenalism, and Sensory Magnitudes

Jacob Beck (York University)

According to a common view of perceptual discrimination, perceivers discriminate objective magnitudes by introspectively comparing sensory magnitudes. For example, perceivers determine which drink has a greater sucrose concentration by introspectively comparing their phenomenal sweetness. Similarly, perceivers determine which paint sample reflects more light by introspectively comparing their phenomenal brightness. I will argue that this view conflicts with secure findings in psychophysics. Thus, some aspect of the view needs to go.