Perception and the reach of phenomenal content

The phenomenal character of perceptual experience involves the representation of colour, shape and motion. Does it also involve the representation of high-level categories? Is the recognition of a tomato as a tomato contained within perceptual phenomenality? Proponents of a conservative view of the reach of phenomenal content say 'No', whereas those who take a liberal view of perceptual phenomenality say 'Yes'. I clarify the debate between conservatives and liberals, and argue in favour of the liberal view that high-level content can directly inform the phenomenal character of perception.Citation: Bayne, T. (2009). 'Perception and the reach of phenomenal content', The Philosophical Quarterly, 59(236), 385-404. [The definitive version of the article is available at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-9213.2009.631.x]. © 2009 Tim Bayne. The full-text of this article is not available in ORA, but you may be able to access the article via the publisher copy link on this record page