知覺の樣式と表現の樣式

Abstract

In the great tradition of philosophy, the notion of various modes of perception has been widely recognized. But in Spinoza's metaphysics it takes a form that is illuminating for the theme of these lectures. Spinoza spoke of two attributes of substance, under each of which substance is adequately conceived. This concept is here replaced by the humbler one that a thing can be perceived in either of two special ways, each adequate to its nature. One of these modes of perception may be called observation. Things as the data of this way of looking at them are spatiotemporally determinate and serve as evidence for literal or scientific statements or theories about them. This presents the "physical" aspect of things. But there is another special mode of perception here called imaginative in which things have the aspect of images. This mode is as elemental and independent as that called observation. Both these special ways of looking at things have a common base in simple perception, in which things appear without the definite characteristics they have as the special data of the two special modes. Wittgenstein's theory of aspects (near the end of his Philosophical Investigations) is suggestive for this theory of perception. Corresponding to the modes of perception--the two special and the one non-special or elemental one--are three modes of expression, in language. The familiar, non-special language of intimate conversation expresses what we experience or perceive in the relaxed mode of elemental awareness--perception simpliciter. The logic of this language is not as strict as the logic controlling the two special modes of expression. One of these is the language of literal expression and meaning, which is scientific when it becomes systematic. This is the language expressing observational experience, and its logic is inductive and deductive, strictly conceived as the logic of non-contradiction and scientific discovery. The other special mode of expression serves perception in the imaginative mode. When developed this becomes the language of poetry, religion and even a part of the language of metaphysics. This expression is essentially rhythmical and paradoxical, therefore very different from the literal expression based on observation. It is a sort of dance in words. The main philosophical point here is that the nature of things, in the imaginative mode of perception, demands and confirms this sort of expression, without the "subjectivity" so often attributed to the language of imagination and to its base in imaginative perception. The language of philosophy is post-special, as the popular language is pre-special. In the philosopher's view and expression, the variety of the special modes of perception and expression is recognized together with their meeting place in the basic perception of the relaxed mode of awareness.