Investigation of phenomenological problems for the theory of mental existence in the light of the sense datum theory

Saeedimehr, Mohammad; Mirrahimi, Fatemeh; Karimzadeh, Omid

doi:10.22096/ek.2022.541249.1405

Investigation of phenomenological problems for the theory of mental existence in the light of the sense datum theory

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

Mohammad Saeedimehr ¹

Fatemeh Mirrahimi ²

Omid Karimzadeh ³

¹ Professor, Department of Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

² PhD Student, Department of Islamic Philosophy and Theology, Faculty of Law, Theology and Political Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

³ Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Institute for Fundamental Research in Science and Technology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

10.22096/ek.2022.541249.1405

Abstract

There are different tests for an adequate philosophical theory of perception. One of them is phenomenological testing, which focuses on the conscious aspects of sense experiences. Sense-datum theories that appeal to sense data cannot deliver a satisfactory phenomenology.
One of the problems is related to awareness of objects that bear the properties that characterize what it is like for us the austere nature of sense data—as objects that only possess sensible qualities— makes it difficult for the theory to adequately capture the phenomenology of “real” experiences. Other problem is related to the primary qualities. A more specific phenomenological problem area for sense datum theory has concerned the experience of depth. The sense datum theorist rebuts some objection by adopting an ontological and epistemological position.
One of the leading theories of perception in the ontology of the Islamic philosophy is the theory of mental existence. The sense-datum theory seems to have many similarities with the theory of mental existence. Using some principles of Transcendent philosophy such as the discussion of the nature union between external objects and their mental forms, the resurrection of sensory and imaginary forms to the soul, the distinction between the first carriers and common carriers and the characteristics of present knowledge, the theory of mental existence can be defended against phenomenological problems.

Keywords

phenomenological

mental existence

sense datum

transcendent philosophy

Berkeley, G. A New Theory of Vision and other Writings. London: J.M. Dent & Sons Ltd, 1910.

Byrne, A. “DON'T PANIC: Tye’s Intentionalist Theory of Consciousness.” In A Field Guide to the Philosophy of Mind Symposium on Tye’s Consciousness, Color, and Content, 2002.

Fish, W. Philosophy of Perception. London: Routledge, 2010.

Huemer, M. “Sense- Data.” The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (Ed.), 2011.

Jackson, F. Perception: A Representative Theory. Cambridge, Mass: Cambridge University Press, 1977.

Javadi Amoli, Abdullah. Rahiq Makhtum. Vol. 1. Fourth edition, Qom: Esraa Publications, 2010. [In Persian]

Maggie, Brian. The Great Philosophers. Translator: Ezatullah Fooladvand, Tehran: Kharazmi Publications, 2015. [In Persian]

Moore, G. E. Some Main Problems of Philosophy. London: George, Allen and Unwin, 1953.

Motahari, Morteza. Collection of Works. Vols. 5 and 9. Tehran: Sadra Publications, 2003. [In Persian]

Nagel, T. “What Is It Like to Be a Bat?.” In Mortal Questions, 165-180. Cambridge: canto, 1979.

Robinson, H. Perception. London: Routledge, 1994.

Russell, B. The Problems of Philosophy. NewYork: Oxford University Press, 1912.

Ryle, G. The Concept of Mind. London: Penguin, 1990.

Shirazi, Sadr al-Din. Collection of Philosophical Essays of Sadr al-Mutallah. Tehran: Hekmat Publications, 1996. [In Persian]

Shirazi, Sadr al-Din. Comments on the Theology of Healing. Vol. 1. Tehran: Sadra Islamic Wisdom Foundation Publications, 2003. [In Persian]

Shirazi, Sadr Al-Din. The Evidences of God in the Methods of Conduct. Mashhad: University Publishing, 1981. [In Arabic]

Shirazi, Sadr al-Din. The Keys of the Unseen. Tehran: Institute of Cultural Studies and Research, 1984. [In Arabic]

Shirazi, Sadr al-Din. The Transcendent Wisdom in the Four Intellectual Journeys. Vols. 8, 3 & 1. Beirut: Dar Al-Ahya Al-Arab Heritage Publications, 1981. [In Arabic]

Shirazi, Sadr al-Din. Three Philosophical Essays. Qom: Book Garden, 2009. [In Persian]

Strawson, P.F. “Perception and Its Objects.” In Philosophical Writings, ed. G.F. Macdonald (ed.), Oxford: Oxford Scholarship Online, 1979.

Tabatabai, Mohammad Hossein. Margin on the Four Journeys. Qom: Al-Mustafawiyyah School Press, N. D. [In Arabic]

Tabatabai, Mohammad Hossein. Principles of Philosophy and Method of Realism. Vol. 1. Footnote by Morteza Motahari. Tehran: Sadra Publications, 2012. [In Persian]

Tabatabai, Mohammad Hossein. The Beginning of Wisdom. Qom: Islamic Propaganda Office, 1992. [In Arabic]

Tabatabai, Mohammad Hossein. The End of Wisdom. Translated and Described by Dr. Shirvani. Qom: Dar Al-Fikr Publications, 2003. [In Persian]

Tye, M. Consciousness, Color and Content. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2000.

Worship, Abdul Rasool. Introduction to the System of Sadra's Wisdom. Vol. 2. Qom: Position Study and Development Organization, 2016. [In Persian]

Send comment about this article

Name *

Enter Name.

Email Address *

Enter a valid email address.

Affiliation *

Enter a vaid affiliation.

Comments *