Interface Theory vs Gibson

An Ontological Defense of the Ecological Approach

Dados Bibliográficos

ID21591740
AutoresA D Wilson (0000-0002-0459-0728, Leeds Beckett University, autor correspondente)
Ano2021
Volume34
Fascículo7
Páginas989-1010
Data de publicação2021-10-03
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPhilosophical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0951-5089 • E-ISSN: 1465-394X
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09515089.2021.1937592
OpenAlexW2779410880
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas49

Interface theory is the hypothesis that inferential, representational theories of perception entail that fitness, not truth, dictates the evolution of perceptual systems. They show, with simulations, that “veridical” perceptual mappings (ones that preserve at least some of the structure of the world) are routinely out-competed by “non-veridical” interfaces (ones that make no attempt to preserve that structure). They therefore take particular aim at the direct perception, ecological approach to perception and work to show that such a system, even if technically an option, would never be selected for by evolution. This paper defends the ecological approach from this novel, existential attack by showing that the ecological hypothesis is so different in kind to the inferential, representational view of perception that it simply falls outside the scope of interface theory’s critiques; ecological psychology remains a viable scientific endeavor. This analysis will show that, far from being a radical new approach to perception, interface theory is simply a clear and elegant formalization of mainstream representational psychology, and any implications interface theory may have belong solely to that branch of science

Cognitive psychology · Cognitive science · Ecological psychology · Epistemology · Mainstream · Perception · Scientific theory · Cognitive Science and Education Research · Computer Science · Embodied and Extended Cognition · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Psychology