PHIL 209 - Representation and Reality

FC SSCI

4 credits
In this course we explore foundational issues in the scientific study of animal behavior. More specifically, we are concerned with theoretical questions about how animals perceive the world around them. Do animals (including humans) need to represent the world accurately in order to respond to the environment effectively? That is, how important is truth or veridicality for attaining biological success? To what extent (if any) do our senses provide an objective perspective on reality? Do animals with different needs and abilities live in different perceived worlds? This course explores these thorny issues from an interdisciplinary perspective, introducing central topics in perceptual psychology, sensory ecology, and philosophy of cognitive science.