Is Visual Perception an Illusion Created by the Brain?
a philosophical and neuroscientific piece
0. Overview
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To say that visual perception is an illusion created by the brain is to invoke two sets of enquiries: one being whether visual perception is illusory; the other being that whether the brain creates it. The answer to the first question involves an evaluation of the truthfulness of perception against the physical stimulus. The answer to the second question involves an evaluation of reductive physicalism and an investigation of the origin of perceptual information. The essay will first start by defining basics terminologies. Then it will present evidence from the perceptual effects of visual (petit) illusions and evidence from patients with lesions to the visual system. The essay argues that illusions are veridical reconstructions of present and past empirical information via a Bayesian learning model, and that any assumption of innateness or predisposition is unnecessary. Visual perception is neither illusory nor created by the brain.
1. Terminological Definitions
1.1 the World, Sensations and Perceptions
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We start by defining the three modules involved in visual perception: The World, sensation and perception second question involves an evaluation of reductive physicalism and an investigation of the origin of perceptual information. The essay will first start by defining basics terminologies. Then it will present evidence from the perceptual effects of visual (petit) illusions and evidence from patients with lesions to the visual system. The essay argues that illusions are veridical reconstructions of present and past empirical information via a Bayesian learning model, and that any assumption of innateness or predisposition is unnecessary. Visual perception is neither illusory nor created by the brain.