Sensory Malfunctions, Limitations, and Trade-offs
Abstract
Teleological accounts of sensory normativity treat normal functioning for a species as a standard: sensory error involves departure from normal functioning for the species, i.e. sensory malfunction. Straightforward reflection on sensory trade-offs reveals that normal functioning for a species can exhibit failures of accuracy. Acknowledging these failures of accuracy is central to understanding the adaptations of a species. To make room for these errors we have to go beyond the teleological framework and invoke the notion of an ideal observer from vision science. The notion of an ideal observer also sheds light on the important distinction between sensory malfunction and sensory limitation.
Repository Citation
Ganson, Todd. 2018. "Sensory Malfunctions, Limitations, and Trade-offs." Synthese 195(4): 1705-1713.
Publisher
Springer Verlag
Publication Date
4-1-2018
Publication Title
Synthese
Department
Philosophy
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11229-016-1298-3
Keywords
Sensory error, Representation, Visual illusion, Sensory malfunction, Dretske, Matthen, Sensory limitation, Sensory trade-off, Sensory ecology
Language
English
Format
text
