PY4610 Philosophy of Perception

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof S J Prosser

Prof S J Prosser
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr S Prosser

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module concerns a variety of contemporary philosophical issues relating to perception. Attention will be paid to issues in philosophy of mind, epistemology and metaphysics as well as the relevance of empirical research in cognitive science. Topics covered are likely to include the arguments from illusion and hallucination, sense-data, direct and indirect realism, na?ve realism, disjunctive theories of perception, the relation between perception and belief, the relation between the representational content of an experience and its phenomenal character, Molyneaux's question, colour experience and the metaphysics of colours, the perception of change, and the question of whether perceptual experiences have non-conceptual contents.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour lecture and 1 x 1-hour seminar.

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

267

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Solidly grasp the core debates and positions in contemporary philosophy of perception
  • Be aware of the major views concerning the immediate objects of perception, and of the major objections that have been raised against these views
  • Grasp several more specific issues in philosophy of perception, and their connections to the wider debates
  • Appreciate the importance to philosophy of perception of an awareness of empirical work in psychology and the cognitive sciences, of the difference between empirical and philosophical issues, and of the fact that this boundary is not always sharp
  • Comprehend research-level writing, formulate and articulate their own views precisely, both verbally and in writing, and engage in critical discussion with others

PY4610 Philosophy of Perception

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof S J Prosser

Prof S J Prosser
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr S Prosser

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module concerns a variety of contemporary philosophical issues relating to perception. Attention will be paid to issues in philosophy of mind, epistemology and metaphysics as well as the relevance of empirical research in cognitive science. Topics covered are likely to include the arguments from illusion and hallucination, sense-data, direct and indirect realism, na?ve realism, disjunctive theories of perception, the relation between perception and belief, the relation between the representational content of an experience and its phenomenal character, Molyneaux's question, colour experience and the metaphysics of colours, the perception of change, and the question of whether perceptual experiences have non-conceptual contents.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour lecture and 1 x 1-hour seminar.

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

267

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Solidly grasp the core debates and positions in contemporary philosophy of perception
  • Be aware of the major views concerning the immediate objects of perception, and of the major objections that have been raised against these views
  • Grasp several more specific issues in philosophy of perception, and their connections to the wider debates
  • Appreciate the importance to philosophy of perception of an awareness of empirical work in psychology and the cognitive sciences, of the difference between empirical and philosophical issues, and of the fact that this boundary is not always sharp
  • Comprehend research-level writing, formulate and articulate their own views precisely, both verbally and in writing, and engage in critical discussion with others