There must be encapsulated nonconceptual content in vision

In this paper I want to propose an argument to support Jerry Fodor's thesis (Fodor 1983) that input systems are modular and thus informationally encapsulated. The argument starts with the suggestion that there is a "grounding problem" in perception, i. e. that there is a problem in explaining how perception that can yield a visual experience is possible, how sensation can become meaningful perception of something for the subject. Given that visual experience is actually possible, this invites a transcendental argument that explains the conditions of its possibility. I propose that one of these conditions is the existence of a visual module in Fodor's sense that allows the step from sensation to object-identifying perception, thus enabling visual experience. It seems to follow that there is informationally encapsulated nonconceptual content in visual perception.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
ArXiv.org
Published
2025-03-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.48550/arxiv.2503.15538
Citations
2
Primary Topic
Visual perception and processing mechanisms
Type
article
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article

There must be encapsulated nonconceptual content in vision

Vincent C. Müller
2 citations
ArXiv.org
Visual perception and processing mechanisms
article

There must be encapsulated nonconceptual content in vision

Vincent C. Müller
article en
2 citations

Abstract

In this paper I want to propose an argument to support Jerry Fodor's thesis (Fodor 1983) that input systems are modular and thus informationally encapsulated. The argument starts with the suggestion that there is a "grounding problem" in perception, i. e. that there is a problem in explaining how perception that can yield a visual experience is possible, how sensation can become meaningful perception of something for the subject. Given that visual experience is actually possible, this invites a transcendental argument that explains the conditions of its possibility. I propose that one of these conditions is the existence of a visual module in Fodor's sense that allows the step from sensation to object-identifying perception, thus enabling visual experience. It seems to follow that there is informationally encapsulated nonconceptual content in visual perception.

ArXiv.org
Visual perception and processing mechanisms
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