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have the same initial scientific quite long gaps in sensory data,
credibility, but are (I believe) and remain appropriate though
essentially incorrect. They deny there is no sensory input. But how
that perception is an active can "output" be controlled by
combining of features stored from “input” when there is no input?
the past, building and selecting The fact is that sensory inputs are
hypotheses of what is indicated by not continuously required or
sensory data. On the active available, and so we cannot be
account we regard perceptions as dealing with a pure input-output
essentially fictional. Though system. Further, when we consider
generally predictive, and so any common action, such as
essentially correct, cognitive placing a book on a table (a
fictions may be wrong to drive us favourite example of philosophers)
into error. On this active view, we cannot test from retinal images
both veridical (correct-predictive) the table's solidity and general
and illusory (false-predictive) book-supporting capabilities. In
perceptions are equally fictions. To engineering terminology, we
perceive is to read the present in cannot monitor directly the most
terms of the past to predict and important characteristics of objects
control the future. This account is which must be known for
very different from the passive behaviour to be appropriate. This
story implied by Skinner's implies that these characteristics
behaviourism, and most ably are inferred, from the past. The
propounded by James J. Gibson other highly suggestive-indeed
and Eleanor Gibson (whose article dominating -- fact is that
is on page 711). perception is predictive. In skills,
there may be zero delay between
Why should one want to push sensory input and behaviour. But
all this stuff about " brain fictions" how could there be zero delay,
(as I do) when stimuli and except by acting upon a predictive
responses are so easily observed, hypothesis ? (Surely J. J. Gibson's
and so like the usual stuff of description of perceptions as
science? The essential reason is (I selections from the available
believe) very easily demonstrated, "ambient array" will not do : it
by common observation and by would have to be a selection from
experiment. Current sensory data a future "ambient array" for the
(or stimuli) are simply not passive account to work : but this
adequate directly to control evokes a metaphysics we cannot
behaviour in familiar situations. welcome. The significance of
Behaviour may continue through prediction in perception has been
Times Literary Supplement JUNE 23, 1972 4
powerless (or are just like any relevant to the logical problems the
other objects) in the absence of brain must solve to infer objects
brains or other information – from sensory patterns and stored
handling systems. Evidently data. This is quite different from a
symbols must affect brains in some cognitive account of perceptual
more or less lawful manner: but distortions, and other phenomena
for this to be possible the relevant which may be supposed to arise
brain states must – like the typist’s from misapplication of strategies
or compositor’s characters – be quite apart from the physiology
free to adopt information storing involved. Using a slide-rule, an
and representing orders. So they error may be due to physical errors
must in this rather limited sense be in the rule itself, or to
free of physical restraint, though misapplication of the rule for the
not quite isolated from the rest of problem in hand. This is exactly
the physical world for learning and the distinction involved here,
perceiving to be possible. between physiological and
cognitive errors.
The celebrated (and I believe
essentially misleading) Gestalt We should expect physiological
theory of perception postulated restraints to produce the same
physiological restraints to explain effects for any object situation (for
many visual phenomena, such as example after – images, due to
preference for, and distortion retinal fatigue, to any bright light).
towards, figures of “simple” and Misplaced strategy errors should,
“closed” form. Visual forms were on the other hand, be related to the
supposed to be represented in the kind of perceptual inference, from
brain by similarly shaped electrical sensory pattern to object, being
brain fields – circles by circular carried out. So the point is that the
brain traces, presumably houses by physiology should only produce
house – shaped brain traces. These errors when it is exerting general
brain traces were supposed to tend restraints. We should not expect
to form simple and closed shapes, this except in abnormal situations,
because of their physical such as when the physiological
properties; much as bubbles tend “components” are driven beyond
to become spheres, as this form their dynamic range. Considering
has minimum potential energy. phenomena of perception, such as
Now this implies that visual ambiguous, distorting or
“organizations” and distortions are paradoxical figures: do these
due to physical restraints and figures upset the physiology, or
forces which will not in general be select inappropriate strategies, to
Times Literary Supplement JUNE 23, 1972 9