Chapter 1 - The Metatheoretical Context

Abstract

The aim of this chapter is to review a diverse set of general concerns that cut across the particular domains and modalities. In some instances, these concerns may be traced to the early modern history of the study of perception; in other instances, they are of more recent origin. Attitudes toward these matters, sometimes explicit but typically implicit, often contribute toward shaping formulation of the question under investigation and the investigative style. The fundamental aim of all theories of perception is to supply an account that is sufficient to explain veridical perception, that is, the perception that supports successful action by keeping the perceiver in contact with the environment. Despite a general recognition that the visual system has concurrent access to multiple sources of information, the investigation of information integration has been slow to develop.