PSYB51H3 Study Guide - Étienne Bonnot De Condillac, Venus Flytrap, Absolute Threshold
Document Summary
Ability to detect an act (sensation) and give it a meaning (perception) If our mental life relies on info from our sense, then the place to study these senses is w/in the sci of hb psych, but not exclusively. Idea that our perceived reality depends on what our sense pick up was recognized 1st by c18th etienne. Exemplified imagine mental life of statue w/ no senses. Thus, it"s mental life consists of that smell. With more sense and exp, it"s mental life develops. Eg) how much louder must one turn up the radio for one to notice a change in volume? : scaling measuring private experiences, quale (pl. Seeing how the brain works when we experience stimuli: thresholds and the dawn of psychophysics. Allegory of the cave = metaphor for our perception: prisoners born in cave & chained faced to wall only see shadows that"s cast indirectly by fire. What they perceive is limited and they can"t see more.
