How Visual Perception Yields Reasons for Belief

Citation

Millar A (2011) How Visual Perception Yields Reasons for Belief. Philosophical Issues, 21 (1), pp. 332-351. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1533-6077.2011.00207.x

Abstract
It is argued that seeing that P is a mode of knowing that P that is to be explained in terms of the exercise of visual-perceptual recognitional abilities. The nature of those abilities is described. The justification for believing that P, when one sees that P, is provided by the fact that one sees that P. Access to this fact is explained in terms of an ability to recognize of seen objects that one is seeing them. Reasons for resistance to such an account are considered. The distinction between merely reasonable belief and well-founded belief is emphasised.

Keywords
perceptual knowledge; perceptual-recognitional abilities, justification arising from perception; reasons for belief arising from perception

Journal
Philosophical Issues: Volume 21, Issue 1