Visual Objects · PHIL 281

About the seminar

This seminar series begins by distinguishing cognitive and perceptual processes, focusing on visual reference. It critically examines perceptual content, questioning direct realism and introducing the concept of visual space. The course covers perceptual reference and the computational aspects of vision, emphasizing inference and processing stages. It addresses the vehicle, content, and meta-semantics of visual reference, exploring how visual perception is constrained by and connected to its content and causal relationships.

Schedule

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Date	Topic	Reading	Recommended
Tue1/9	Session 1Perception, Cognition, and Reference Introduction No reading.	—	—
Tue1/16	Session 2External Conditions Causal Analysis	Pears (1976) “The causal conditions of perception” Tye (1982) “A causal analysis of seeing”	Goldman (1977) “Perceptual objects” Evans (1982) Varieties of Reference, Chapter 6
Tue1/23	Session 3Internal Conditions Meta-semantics: Internal Conditions	Warnock “Seeing,” Section I (pp. 201-210) Dretske (1969) “Non-epistemic seeing,” Section 2 (pp. 18-35) Siegel (2006) “How does visual phenomenology constrain object-seeing?”	—
Tue1/30	Session 4Reference, Description, and Accuracy Direct Reference	Dickie (2015) “Perception and Demonstratives” Greenberg (2018) “Content and Target in Pictorial Representation”	Dickie (2011) “Visual Attention Fixes Demonstrative Reference by Eliminating Referential Luck”
Tue2/6	Session 5Feature Maps and Object Files Feature Maps and Object Files	Treisman (1986) “Features and objects in visual processing” Treisman (1988) “Features and objects”	Treisman and Gelade Treiseman, Khaneman, and Gibbs
Tue2/13	Session 6Visual Indexes Visual Indexes	Pylyshyn (2001) “Visual indexes, preconceptual objects, and situated vision” Green and Quilty-Dunn (2021) “What is an object file?”	Pylshyn (2003) Seeing and Visualizing, Chapter 4 and 5 Green (2018) “What do object files pick out?”
Tue2/20	Session 7Segmentation and Object Representation Grouping and Object Representation	Palmer (1999) “Chapter 6: Organizing Objects and Scenes” in Vision Science	Palmer (1999) “Chapter 7: Perceiving Object Properties and Parts” in Vision Science Palmer (1999) “Chapter 8: Representing Shape and Structure” in Vision Science
Tue2/27	Session 8Singular Accuracy Conditions Singular Accuracy Conditions	Burge (2005) “Disjunctivism and perceptual psychology” (skip the appendix)	—
Tue3/6	Session 9Grappy Content Modes of Presentation	Siegel (2011) “Chapter 6: The role of objects in visual experience” Schellenberg (2018) “Chapter 4: Fregean Particularism” in The Contents of Visual Experience	—
Tue3/13	Session 10Discourse Referents and Visual Referents Discourse Referents and Visual Referents	Karttunen (1976) “Discourse referents” Clark (2004) “Feature placing and proto objects” Abusch (2012) “Applying discourse semantics and pragmatics to co-reference in picture sequences” Greenberg (MS) “Visual discourse referents”	—

Requirements

1. Short Paper (~5 pages): Due Thurs, Feb 15. This paper should be exegetical. Pick one fairly specific idea from one of the readings and explain it. Though you may discuss challenges to the ideas under discussion, the emphasis should be on methodical explanation, not theory-building or argument.
2. Long Paper (15-20 pages): Due Mon, March 26. This paper should advance a thesis and argue for it. It need not be original to the literature, but it should be original to you. Outside reading is not required, but may be recommended. You are encouraged to build upon your first paper. Possible topics might include: develop an objection to a theory; develop a reply to an existing theory; develop a variant of an existing theory; compare two existing theories, and so on. The degree of focus should be comparable to the first paper, but here you should go beyond exegesis.
3. Meetings (minimum 2): Due: one before Feb 12, one before March 26. These can be short, half-hour meetings. They should be oriented towards the writing you are doing (at least). You should prepare a short list of issues you’d like to discuss— and if possible, a proposed outline for your paper.