Example Of Essay On Sensory Perceptions

Critical Thinking, PHI 210

The present article will describe and discuss the precision, strengths, and weaknesses of human senses as they pertain to thinking in general and to our own thinking in particular through research and some interpretations.
The statement, “there is nothing in our mind unless it is first in the senses”, says in stark simplicity that our brain would be the main source of raw data for our thinking. Thus, “If we sense better we can think better.” (Kirby Goodspar, 2007) and “Sharpening our perceptions is crucial for delivering better data to our brains. We need the accurate observations. We need the facts right. We need solid sensory awareness to ground our thinking. We need to perceive beyond appearances and behind false faces.” (Kirby Goodspar, 2007).

Provide at least three (3) reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information.

For one, our experiences can influence our perception of sensory information. For example, when you see a girl and guy talking, irrespective of what they are talking, you might jump to wrong conclusions, particularly if you are insecure in your relationship and the boy happens to be your boyfriend. Second, your sense of smell can signal for danger. When you smell smoke, there can be a fire or at the very least something smoldering, thus, you can trust the accuracy of that sensory information. In addition, thirdly, sensory perception is something which every individual might see different. An example of this is that I do not know if other people perceive the color black in the way I see the color black. What black represents to me might actually be different from that of someone else.

Identify and describe at least (3) factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory information.

“Experiences, thoughts, and utterances are contributing factors in the accuracy of our sensory information. The conception of the contents of experience as given by its accuracy condition initially motivated by the idea that one can mislead by one's experiences. Once one recognizes the datum that one can mislead by one’s senses, it is a further claim that experiences them assessed for accuracy. In the case of beliefs and utterances, it is their contents that are assessable for accuracy; the beliefs and utterances themselves are as well. A belief or utterance inherits its truth-value from the truth-value of its content. This stands in contrast to desires or hopes, which may have contents that are assessable for accuracy, but are not themselves so assessable. If experiences have accuracy conditions, then they are like beliefs and utterances in this respect, and unlike desires and hopes.” (Stanford Encyclopedia, March 2005).

Discuss the roles of “nature” and “nurture” with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data.

“Throughout different cultures, the human race is very much alike. Nature includes the traits that are hereditary or inherited from your ancestors. Nurture has historically been referred to as the care given to children by the parents, with the mother playing a role of particular importance, this term is now regarded by some as any environmental factor in the contemporary debate. Thus the definition of "nurture" has expanded to include influences on development arising from prenatal, parental, extended family, and peer experiences, and extending to influences such as media, marketing, and socio-economic status.” (Csongradi,C ).

References

Kirby Gary, Goodspar, Jeffery. (2007). Thinking, Fourth ed., p 54.
Stanford Encyclopedia. (2005). The Contents of Perception, First published Fri Mar 18, 2005
Csongradi, Carolyn. A New Look at the Old Debate.
EBSCO host ( Britannica Academic Edition)
CREDO Reference (Sensory Perception)