Sens-Data and Perception- G.E. Moore and A.J. Ayer

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About the Book Sense-data and Perception: G.E. Moore and A.J. Ayer a systematic attempt at understanding the notion of perception in the philosophies of G.E. Moore and A.J. Ayer. It starts a fresh debate on the issue of sense-data and perception by tracing the problem from the Cartesian notion of 'Deception by the senses'-the forerunner of the classical Argument from Illusion. While on the one hand, it tries to locate sense-data in common- sense framework, on the other it uncovers the inconsistency involved in defining sense-data as linguistic tools.

One crucial claim of the book is that sense-data are the nothing but an analytical remake of empiricist ideas. It gives a lucid account of the relevant arguments and tries to see the problem in a new perspective.

About the Author Dr. Raj Verma Sinha has done. her Ph.D. from Jawaharlal Nehru University under the guidance of Prof. (Retd.) Suman Gupta. Her academic and research interests include Analytical Philosophy, Logic, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion and Feminist Philosophy. She has written and presented a number of papers on a variety of Philosophical topics.

She has also been a General Fellow of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, New Delhi.

At present, she is teaching at Janaki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi.

Preface It is generally thought that the final words have been said on the issue of perception, i.e. on the relation between sense- data and material things. True, there were a number of debates on the issue in the first half of the twentieth century. But somehow the debaters concerned themselves with either locating sense-data in empirical space, or 'picking out' the sense-data from the given, or finding a justification for the existence of sense-data. There was indeed a need to trace the debate from its empiricist origins which shows how the circle of ideas became insurmountable for those who began their gnostic journey from the Cartesian ideas.

The two philosophers chosen for the purpose belong to two main trends of the time. While G.E. Moore is associated with Common-Sense approach. A.J. Ayer belongs to Logical. Positivist school. They share quite a few things. Both are empiricist philosophers and accept the occurrence of sense- data. The theory of perception has remained central to their philosophies. And interestingly, both these philosophers have some points to make against metaphysical assertions. Though in different ways.

It is almost religiously accepted that Moore is a defender of common sense. I have made an attempt to re-examine this supposition and to analyse his view on perception in this light. Ayer, one of the ablest advocates of Logical Positivism, uses sense-data in two senses. First, as linguistic tools and, second, as part of individual's sense-experience. I have tried to show. how this creates inconsistency in his philosophy.

Introduction Can I doubt that right now I am seeing a white envelope lying on the table? Descartes replied in the affirmative. Senses might deceive us. In the early part of the last century A.J. Ayer gave a unique solution to the notion of 'deception by the senses'. He surmised that sense-contents simply occur-indifferent to the division between veridical and delusive and uncoloured by the ideas of true and false.

The philosophy of sense-data dominated the first half of the twentieth century with such able champions as Bertrand Russell, C.D. Broad and H.H. Price. However, a study of A.J. Ayer and G.E. Moore is especially interesting because of the unique treatment of the subject in their philosophies. While Ayer develops the philosophy of sense- data within a linguistic framework, Moore tries to find a justification for sense-data within the precincts of common sense. The sense-data philosophers traverse the regions bypassed by the Cartesian search for certainty. They try to locate certainty at the outskirts of Cartesian Grand Narrative- the region of doubt, deception and uncertainty-the domain of the senses.

In the chapter entitled "Ideas: The Predecessors of sense-data," we will examine the notion of idea in Descartes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume and state their views on perception."

**Contents and Sample Pages**