Discources and Counter Discourses: A Study on Price's Theory of Perception

A Study on Price's Theory of Perception The author Prof. S. Penchalaiah is presently Head and Board of Studies Chairman in the Department of Comparative Dravidian Literature and Philosophy, Dravidian University, Kuppam. He started his career as a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati in 1992. S.Penchalaiah has Published 20 research articles in a different reputed Journals and presented more than 40 arcicles in a various national and International Seminars, Conferences in India.

S.Penchalaiah has authororized two books, Saivism in Rayalaseema: Its Historical and Philosophical Perspectives’ and ‘Counter Discourses: A study on Vemana’s Advaita’. He has submitted three Major monographs. Under his guidance two Ph.D Degrees were awarded. Besides this he has delivered a number of talks in All India Radio, Tirupati relating to various aspects of Philosophy.

The philosophy of perception is one of the important concepts in philosophy. The problem of perception could be analysed in different theories such as; Direct-Realism, Representationalism and Phenomenalism. The Represen-tationalism and Phenomenalism are the result of as a reaction to Direct-Realism. Price’s counter discourses are reaction against Representationalism and Phenomenalism. Thus, his philosophical perception is an evolution from Direct-Realism. This progression of thought has been showed in this book.

The aim of this book is to reproduce the thoughts of the original works of Price in clear and simple English for readers and researchers of Eastern and Western. Heberly Henry Price revolted against the theories of Direct-Realism, Representationalism and Phenomenalism. Phenomenalism is a philosophy which attempts to explain the objects interms of sense-experiences. For the phenomenalists a physical object is a sum total of actual and possible sense-experiences. On the other hand Representationalists hold the view that physical object is something over and above sense-experiences. Sense-experiences do not constitute the nature of the physical object. Physical object is of its causal properties alone.

Price was dissatisfied with both Phenomenalsim and Represenationalism. Price’s counter discourses on theory of perception consists in reconciliation between Phenome-nalism and Representationalism. Price took the best from both phenomenalism and Representationalism but at the same time he criticized their duties. To avoid the difficulties of those theories he made new theories like; Class Theory, Family Theory, Gradual Transition Theory , Perceptual Acceptance and Perceptual Assurance.

In this book I have analysed the problem of perception and found a reconciliation of both the theories of perception. This work has been divided into Seven Chapters. The First Chapter is a brief survey of the Philosophy of perception, starting from the times of Socrates to the contemporary period. The Second Chapter attempts a discussion of ‘'Naive-Realism' and its short comings. Chapter Three and Four are devoted to an examination of Representationalism and Phenomenalism and their merits and demerits. Chapters Five and Six aims at explaining Price's Theory of perception in detail. The basic concepts of Price's Theory - ‘the family of sense-data’,‘physical occupancy’ and the ‘nature of the physical object’ are explained in detail. An understanding of these concepts is prime facie to the study of Price's theory of perception. In the Sixth Chapter Price's analysis of perception is discussed. In Chapter Seven, an evaluation of Price's theory of perception is attempted.

In the preparation of this work, I have received generous help from a number of people in various ways. My indebtedness to them is SO great that I can never repay it. All that I can do is to place on record my gratitude to them. At the outset, I express my deep sense of gratitude to Prof. C. Ramaiah garu (Rtd.) Professor of Philosophy and Ex-member of Indian Council for Philosophical Research, New Delhi His enlightening discussions, critical comments and constant encouragement have been of immense help, in the preparation of this book. I am grateful to Prof. Srinivasa Rao, (Rtd.) Professor of Philosophy, Bangalore University, for the scholarly suggestions, he offered me while planning and carrying out this work. I express my deep sense of gratitude to Prof. Kankanala Rathnaiah garu, Vice- Chancellor, Dravidian University, Kuppam for his ingenious encouragement and support for me in the preparation of the work. I am indebted to Prof. P. Adinarayana Reddy garu, Registrar, Dravidian University, Kuppam who has extended at most help and encouragement in the preparation of this work.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to my beloved teacher Prof.B.Sambasivaprasad garu (Rtd) Department of Philosophy, S.V. University Tirupati and my sincere thanks to my colleague Prof. S. Abdul Sattar, Head, Dept. of Philosophy, S.V. University, Tirupati who has kindly perused the script and for making suggestions before going to press. I thank the authorities of Madras University Library, Madras and Trivandrum, University Library, Trivandrum, Karnataka University Dharwad, for providing me with facilities for study and preparation of the book. I must also thank Prof. Ch. A Rajendra Prasad garu, Dept. of English for his constant encouragement and co-operation. My heart-felt thanks are due to my wife Mrs S. Hemalatha, Assistant Director Prasaaraanga, Dravidian University for her assistance for the proof reading.

That the foundations of Indian culture are deeply embedded in Dravidian culture is now an incontrovertible fact. Dravidian culture is one of the most ancient cultures of the world. Though cultures, slightly contemporaneous to one another, are slowly fading out, the primordial Dravidian culture continues to thrive without losing its quintessence in spite of the apparent changes in systems of dress and address.

Dravidian University was established in 1997 to mirror the real and rich picture of Dravidian culture not only in its linguistic, literary, cultural and philosophical facets but also in science and technological angles too.

The main objectives of Dravidian University are to augment the common weal and social well-being of the communities of marginal languages and to build bridges among the Southern states. While working on each language separately in varied areas, it aims at a synthesis and a discovery of the common heritage through Comparative Studies.

The Centre for Publications and Extension Services is most significant wing of the University because of its several on-going progressive activities.

I know the author of the book Prof. S. Penchalaiah for the last three decades as a scholar and a Lecturer from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati. He has been working as a Professor, Head and Chairman of Board of Studies in this University. Above all, he belongs to the highest status of both Philosophy and Telugu Literature. His mind is not only fixed on the interpretation of texts, but also expressing his rationalistic thoughts in his research activities.

Greek country, United Kingdom has been the birth place of great philosophers and scientists and Price occupies a very high place among them, being a great contemporary British Philosopher. The present work constitutes the main part of Epistemology which is the one of the important branches of Philosophy.

Prof.S.Penchalaiah points out that Price’s counter discourses are reactions against Representationalism and Phenomenalism. This progression of thought has been expressed in this book. The author has successfully brought out all the aspects of Direct- Realism, Phenomenalism and Representa-tionalism. It is extremely difficult for students and scholars to grasp the epistemological essence of Price’s philosophical concepts such as Class Theory, Family Theory, Gradual Transition Theory, Perceptual Acceptance and Perceptual Assurance. But Prof. S. Penchalaiah has made a pioneering effort to lime light and evaluate the philosophy of perception which is more useful for psychologist, realists, representationalists and phenomenalists in the philosophical circle.

Prof. S. Penchalaiah is a good researcher. He has given a clear analysis on the problem of perception and he tried to explain the origin, nature and scope of the problem of perception from the times of Socrates to the contemporary Western philosophical investigations.