Direct Realism

Basic Definition

Direct realism, also known as naive realism, posits that perceptions provide direct knowledge of the world.
Proponents maintain we experience external objects and their qualities precisely as they truly are.
Perceptual experiences are not intermediated by sense-data, contrary to indirect realist or representational views.

In the direct realist view, what is perceived is not a representation or an image of the external world, but the world itself.
Among advocates, there is a general belief in the existence of a world independent of the human mind.
It supports the notion of unmediated contact with the world, suggesting our experiences aren’t manipulated by any internal processes.

The argument from perceptual relativity proposes that the variation in perceptual experiences doesn’t necessitate acceptance of sense-data.
Hallucinations and illusions, critics argue, can be contextualised as misinterpretations of sensory input rather than as proof of indirect realism.
The theory of direct realism dismiss the need for an internal representation to explain perception, aiding Occam’s razor.

Critics question the direct realist’s ability to account for hallucinations and illusions, where perceptions appear detached from any external object.
Critics mention the phenomenon of perceptual variation; the same object can appear differently to two observers, or to the same observer at different times.
Critics further argue that if direct realism were true, we would be able to rely on our senses for accurate information about the world. However, various fields from psychology to physics show that our senses can be misleading.
Counter-arguments often focus on theories of perceptual adaptation and advancements in neuroscience to help explain how our perception can be both direct and fallible.

Significant proponents of direct realism include G.E. Moore and J.L. Austin, who presented detailed arguments against the idea of sense-data and the indirect realism associated with it.
Both philosophers argue that our direct experiences are not complex interpretations or representations, but an immediate engagement with the world.
While not without critics, direct realism forms a substantial part of epistemological theories, and it is important to understand both the arguments for and against this perspective.