Zoom: https://umac.zoom.us/j/95409920647

Password: 651054

Abstract

In my talk I will outline a direct-realist theory of sensory experience, i.e. a theory according to which material objects are directly given to us in sensory experience. In contrast to other versions of direct realism, however, I will not limit the scope of this claim to veridical experiences, but extend it to non-veridical cases (hallucinations, illusions, dreams) as well. The central idea of my approach is to understand non-veridical cases of sensory experience as direct awarenesses of non-existent material objects. I would like to draw on a conception of non-existent objects that was originally introduced by Alexius Meinong (1904) and later developed further by Terence Parsons (1980), Richard Routley (1980) and Dale Jacquette (1996).

Bio

Wolfgang works as a visiting professor at Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich, Germany. His core interests lie in various areas of theoretical philosophy. Currently, he is working primarily on problems of self-consciousness and self-knowledge. However, he is also interested in the structure of phenomenal concepts, the nature of non-existent objects and metaphilosophical questions, in particular the question of what makes a topic an object of philosophical research. — Earlier, Wolfgang worked at Goethe-University Frankfurt, Duisburg-Essen University, Leibniz University Hannover, Bielefeld University, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, and Freie Universität Berlin. He lives in Berlin, together with his partner and two children.