What's a Theory to do… with Seeing? or Some Empirical Considerations for Observation and Theory

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Criticism of the observation/theory distinction generally supposes it to be an empirical fact that even the most basic human perception is heavily theory–laden. I offer critical examination of experimental evidence cited by Thomas Kuhn and Paul Churchland on behalf of this supposition. I argue that the empirical evidence cited is inadequate support for the claims in question. I further argue that we have empirical grounds for claiming that the Kuhnian discussion of perception is developed within an inadequate conceptual framework and that a version of the observation/theory distinction is indeed tenable. The connection between cognitive science and epistemology is also discussed.

This publication has 12 references indexed in Scilit: