[The One and Only...]

Originally Posted by theapportioner

I agree with Bubba that you need to elaborate more fully on what you mean by terms like 'perception'. Do you mean to say that 'sense-data' are the only knowable reality?

Sort of. Perception is taken here in a strict sense - what I see, hear, smell, etc. But I also perceive thoughts as well. Perception, as used so far, is the collection of phenomenon known to myself.

I tend to frequently use words in ways like this as well:
Perception - The totality of my perceptions.
Perceptions - Phenomenon.
Phenomenal reality - The environment where all my perceptions interact (might need to make this one more rigorous as I continue, but we'll see)

Also, what is the nature of the association between perceptions and reality? It's unclear if you mean that reality is unknowable but still exists (kind of like believing in a god), or if you mean that we cannot know if reality exists. If you ascribe to the former, then aren't you accepting a form of realism?

I cannot know if reality exists beyond my perceptions. Perceptions exist and are real, even if they are only real as perceptions. Whether a greater, underlying reality exists as well cannot be known. Neither of your assertions are correct; the reality of the phenomenal is knowable, but any reality outside perception is unknowable.

My starting point for my philosophy is myself. I haven't gotten to addressing other human beings yet in this thread.

And how do you distinguish between 'real' perceptions, and illusions, hallucinations and other 'unreal' perceptions?

Illusions and hallucinations still exist as perceptions - they are merely inconsistent with the phenomenon that normally are experienced. Hence why we can distinguish them from other perceptions.

Chimpy - I'm not even close to being done yet.