Enactive Perception vs. Zen Perception
A thought experiment using Muller-Lyer Illusion
Keywords:
Enactive cognition, Fodor, affordances, emergence, realism, Zen, Muller-Lyer illusionAbstract
Enactive Cognition characterizes perception as an 'emergent' phenomenon - not something like a faithful passive representation of pre-existing objective reality, but as something emerging from the coupling between sensory and motor experiences, from a pragmatic need to act in the world under the (action) affordances offered by the environment to the organism, and from dynamically coupled interactions between the person and others under the normativity of the situation one is in. All this suggests that no objective reality or objective perception is possible. On the other hand, Zen prescribes abandoning the encumbrances like competition, greed, fear, jealousy, etc. to perceive reality objectively ‘as it is'. This stance means endorsing realism, i.e., believing that a real reality exists, and a ‘true’ perception is possible. Thus, the two perspectives stand opposite to each other. I reflect on this problematic situation through a thought experiment using the Muller Lyer illusion, and raise a question - "Will a Zen master perceive the Muller Lyer illusion?". And I think they will perceive the illusion because the perception of the illusion is the mark of being an 'enactive being', well acclimatized with one's environment from which even a Zen master can't escape, if they are to achieve a judicious sense-making of the world.
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