ABSTRACT

Proponents of the causal theory of perception have applied the theory to questions about which particular objects or events are perceived, which parts are perceived, and which properties are perceived. In each case, they insist that successful perception is causally dependent on what is perceived. The causal theory rests on an important insight regarding the information-carrying role of perception. In order to succeed in this role, perception cannot be grounded in spurious correlations. But we can respect this insight without embracing the idea that a successful percept must be causally dependent on what is perceived. A correlation in nature can also be genuine or lawful when it arises from a common cause. I show how successful perception is frequently achieved through correlation via a common cause.

摘要

感知因果理论的支持者将该理论应用于关于哪些特定对象或事件被感知、哪些部分被感知以及哪些属性被感知的问题。在每种情况下，他们都坚持认为，成功的感知在因果关系上取决于所感知的内容。因果理论依赖于关于感知信息承载作用的重要见解。为了成功扮演这个角色，感知不能建立在虚假的相关性上。但是我们可以尊重这种洞察力，而不必接受成功的感知必须在因果关系上依赖于所感知的东西的想法。自然界中的相关性也可以是真实的或合法的，因为它是由一个共同的原因引起的。我展示了如何通过共同原因的相关性经常获得成功的感知。