Epistemology & Cognition Lab

Prof. Nir Fresco

Why Perceptual Experiences cannot be Probabilistic

Matteo Colombo, Nir Fresco

Perceptual Confidence is the thesis that perceptual experiences can be probabilistic. This thesis has been defended and criticised based on a variety of phenomenological, epistemological, and explanatory arguments. One gap in these arguments is that they neglect the question of whether perceptual experiences satisfy the formal conditions that define the notion of probability to which Perceptual Confidence is committed. Here, we focus on this underexplored question and argue that perceptual experiences do not satisfy such conditions. But if they do not, then ascriptions of perceptual confidence are undefined; and so, Perceptual Confidence cannot be true.

Publication language English
Pages 407-427
Journal Philosophical Quarterly
Volume 75
Issue number 2
Publication status Published - 01.04.2025

Keywords

algebraic structure of experience
bayesian brain
perceptual confidence
perceptual confidence scales
probabilistic conscious experience

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Philosophy
Access to Document
10.1093/pq/pqae014
Other files and links
Link to publication in Scopus