russell1

Russell (and Nyaya) on

Knowledge by Acquaintance

What do we (directly) perceive?

Nyaya:

(a) particular external objects such as hills & trees

(b) internal objects such as desires & feelings

Russell:

sense data

[Both admit acquaintance with universals, but we shall ignore this topic for the present]

The argument from illusion to identify sense data or a sensory core of perceptual experience.

Once sense data are identified, a generalization:

ALWAYS, WE DIRECTLY PERCEIVE NOTHING BUT SENSE DATA

data from outer senses lead to inferences about physical objects (causal realism)
data of "inner" sense give us knowledge of thoughts, feelings, and desires
memory revives data from inner or the outer senses
consciousness or the self-intimation of consciousness gives us (Russell assumes hesitatingly) knowledge of self

Additional topics:

1. Russell's indubitability thesis. Problems.

2. Nyaya on apperception: perception of previous cognitive events.

3. Nyaya's "analogy" (or "comparison") and the empiricist view of descriptive meaningfulness.

(How do we understand "a gold mountain"?)