Phil102 - Knowledge and Reality assignment 2 - Essay Example

“Veil of Perception” In philosophy, skeptical argument brings out the stand point and belief concerning a universal doubt that surrounds the ability of human to possess knowledge. Skeptical hypothesis is among the most famous skepticism arguments. The "veil of perception" conversely, refers to the belief that, indirectly, our perception about the world is passed through the channel of our ideas (Martin 279). Skepticism about perception generally points out that, we require some methods to measure the accuracy of our perceptions.

Simplicity is an assumption that simpler theories are favorable thus non-skeptics, use simplicity to escape the problem raised by skepticism. In this paper I will discuss the skepticism hypothesis in the "veil of perception,” the importance of the “veil of perception”, and the opposition of simplicity to the hypothesis and how simplicity proposes to avoid the problem. "Veil of perception" is an idea which shows that, what we perceive is like a veil that comes between us and literal world.

This keeps us from perceiving the reality (Macarthur 177). The "veil of perception" gives us a representation of objects or direct consciousness of images and not the physical objects. Our awareness, therefore, becomes indirect to the objects and we are limited to our perceptions since we cannot see, feel, touch or hear the objects (Martin 280). We should take into account that the brain uses signals transmitted to the eye in order to create a visual image of the objects around us (Martin 281).

Based on this account, we realize that all the evidences of perception come from observing the world. Therefore, from what we perceive directly, we can deduce the objects being perceived indirectly (Huemer 212). For example, after reading a story about oranges in a certain area, I can perceive the oranges based on my previous observations of oranges. This brings the question of how true is perception on the oranges. The oranges in my mind are not the real oranges in the story but they act as a representation.

This, therefore, shows the “veil perception” between the world in the story and the mind. Despite the inability to measure how accurate our perceptions are, they give us confidence that things will be more likely as we perceived them to be. Doubt raised by skepticism in perception still remains. I will use "brain in a vat" hypothesis to bring out skepticism and the idea of simplicity in response. "Brain in a Vat" hypothesis assumes that, I am a brain attached to a computer program that can simulate experiences from the outside world.

The computer program can send pulses to the brain in the vat, telling it that it is running or eating an apple. This will produce the same effect as if the brain was in real situation. If in the brain, the vat was told by the computer program that it is running, the brain would sense and have the same responses that it was actually running. This in essence will prove difficult in distinguishing the real perceptions and induced perceptions (Martin 286). A skeptic would seem to win in proving that anything we believe, experience, or perceive might not be true.

A skeptical argument say that if I cannot be accurate that I am not a brain in a vat, therefore, I cannot eliminate the theory that all my beliefs concerning the outside world are false (Cavell 112). This theory shows the unreliability of our perceptions in telling what is false and what is true. Perception is the backbone of human functioning and humans take what they perceive as the absolute truth. This raises doubts and the possibility that, experiences could be created by someone else. However, thoughts in our minds involve real things and those that you have never experienced.

Our experiences give details to these thoughts (Martin 282). Simplicity favors the theory which caters for the most prominent set and the simplest explanation. For instance, if theory X is simpler that of theory Y, then it is rational to believe X than Y (Foster and Martin, 125). In philosophy, simplicity is considered to play a role of theoretical virtue. Considering two theories will help bring out the idea of simplicity. The first theory is the one which states that I am a brain in a vat, and what I perceive is just appearances.

The second theory states that I am not a brain in a vat and, therefore, all my beliefs concerning the outside world are true (Martin 282). To demonstrate simplicity, the second theory is much simpler and, therefore, easy to believe. Complex theories are taken to be irrational and simple theories are preferred. Simplicity tends to avoid the problems raised by skeptics by taking simpler and easy to believe theories as true. In the theories, “Brain in the vat” and “veil of perception”, skepticism arguments are evaded by use of simplicity (Martin 286).

In conclusion, I have demonstrated skepticism surrounding the “veil of perception” and the objection brought by simplicity in avoiding the problems brought by skepticism. It is fundamental to note the role played by our perceptions in our daily lives. This, therefore, means that the subject of perceptions will never ceases to be discussed. Works Cited Cavell, Stanley. The Claim of Reason: Wittgenstein, Skepticism, Morality, and Tragedy. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print. Foster, Marguerite and Martin Michael.

 Probability, Confirmation, and Simplicity: Readings in the Philosophy of Inductive Logic. New York: Odyssey Press, 1966. Print. Huemer, Michael. Skepticism and the Veil of Perception. New Jersy: Rowman & Littlefield, 2001. Print. Macarthur, David. "McDowell, Scepticism, and the'Veil of Perception'."Australasian Journal of Philosophy 81.2 (2003): 175-190. Martin, Robert M. Philosophical Conversations. Peterborough : Broadview Press, 2005. Print.