The expression immaculate perception, used by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in his text Thus Spoke Zarathustra; the term pertains to the idea of "pure knowledge." Nietzsche argues that "immaculate perception" is fictional because it ignores the intimate connection between the perceiver and the external world. [1] He argues that humans are fallible and are capable of using data to ratify or refute perceptions. He also clarifies that perception is value-laden and can be ruled by our interests. [2]
The term was the title of one of Zarathustra's speeches, Von der unbefleckten Erkenntnis, which literally means "On Immaculate Knowledge" or "On Immaculate Cognition. [3] Walter Kaufmann who translated it as "On Immaculate Perception"; other scholars[ who?] also prefer this translation because the main metaphor in the passage is visual perception. [3]
Nietzsche used immaculate perception in his interrogation of the myths of purity. [1] According to the philosopher, perception is value-laden and ruled by interest; [4] in particular, it denies the important role that the will and desires of the perceiver have on every perception. [5]
Nietzsche also used immaculate perception in his discussions of the Christian view on sexuality. He attacked the so-called detachment of the "pure perceivers" or Rein-Erkennenden (e.g. Kantian view that pure judgments of what is beautiful must be detached), calling it voyeurism. [6] According to him, loving the Earth from afar for these pure-knowers is hypocritical because they too are earthly but there is shame and bad conscience in this love. [1]
An example of the immaculate perception principle is Sigmund Freud's theory of mental representation, or what some[ who?] also refer to "copy theory of perception". [7] He proposed that perception, which he often used interchangeably with "external reality", [8] is sensory-given and immediately known to the subject; [7] therefore, it essentially involves the passive and temporary registration of an object. [7] Nietzsche criticized this idea of "pure perception" by arguing that human perceptions are not mere copies of the images on the retinas. [9] He maintained that perception is not clean or untainted by the object of perception. [10] People "actively" construct perceived information [9] as sensory modalities select and tend to simplify phenomena so that they merely serve one's interest and need. [4][ according to whom?]
The expression immaculate perception, used by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche in his text Thus Spoke Zarathustra; the term pertains to the idea of "pure knowledge." Nietzsche argues that "immaculate perception" is fictional because it ignores the intimate connection between the perceiver and the external world. [1] He argues that humans are fallible and are capable of using data to ratify or refute perceptions. He also clarifies that perception is value-laden and can be ruled by our interests. [2]
The term was the title of one of Zarathustra's speeches, Von der unbefleckten Erkenntnis, which literally means "On Immaculate Knowledge" or "On Immaculate Cognition. [3] Walter Kaufmann who translated it as "On Immaculate Perception"; other scholars[ who?] also prefer this translation because the main metaphor in the passage is visual perception. [3]
Nietzsche used immaculate perception in his interrogation of the myths of purity. [1] According to the philosopher, perception is value-laden and ruled by interest; [4] in particular, it denies the important role that the will and desires of the perceiver have on every perception. [5]
Nietzsche also used immaculate perception in his discussions of the Christian view on sexuality. He attacked the so-called detachment of the "pure perceivers" or Rein-Erkennenden (e.g. Kantian view that pure judgments of what is beautiful must be detached), calling it voyeurism. [6] According to him, loving the Earth from afar for these pure-knowers is hypocritical because they too are earthly but there is shame and bad conscience in this love. [1]
An example of the immaculate perception principle is Sigmund Freud's theory of mental representation, or what some[ who?] also refer to "copy theory of perception". [7] He proposed that perception, which he often used interchangeably with "external reality", [8] is sensory-given and immediately known to the subject; [7] therefore, it essentially involves the passive and temporary registration of an object. [7] Nietzsche criticized this idea of "pure perception" by arguing that human perceptions are not mere copies of the images on the retinas. [9] He maintained that perception is not clean or untainted by the object of perception. [10] People "actively" construct perceived information [9] as sensory modalities select and tend to simplify phenomena so that they merely serve one's interest and need. [4][ according to whom?]