Perception And Plato’s Theaetetus

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the same size. This illustrates the fact
that just because you perceive something to be a certain way does not mean that it is true.
Truth and perception do not necessarily coincide. This is also true with belief. When
seeing something that is too far fetched to be real, then you find it hard to believe.
Perception is merely an “experience [which] is just a stage along the causal process
leading to belief.” Perception is not truth or belief, but it is an important (however, not
necessary) step to reaching them.
In Plato’s Theaetetus, the three characters in the conversation have a discussion on
perception and how it relates to the world. Plato recounts Socrates telling the young
Theaetetus how, contrary to his belief, perception is not knowledge. Perception is too
varied, Socrates says. He gives the example of a breeze blowing; one man can be made
cold from the wind, while the man next to him might not be cold at all. The blowing wind
is the same temperature, ...

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