Cognitive Penetrability of Perception
Philosophy Compass July 1, 2013 Dustin Stokes
Perception and cognition are typically considered distinct: seeing differs from believing. The question of whether beliefs and thoughts can directly influence what one sees is known as the cognitive penetration of perception. This paper analyzes the phenomenon, its theoretical implications for philosophy of science, epistemology, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science, and reviews experimental results and their interpretations. It concludes by proposing constraints for analyses and definitions of cognitive penetrability.