Why Perceptual Experiences cannot be Probabilistic

Matteo Colombo, Nir Fresco

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)407-427
Number of pages21
JournalPhilosophical Quarterly
Volume75
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2025

Keywords

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

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Philosophy

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