From birth a person is forced to interact with the surrounding reality and other people. He tries to comprehend what he has seen and heard. It promotes the opportunity to live in harmony with nature and yourself. Science gnoseology defines perception as a phenomenon and distinguishes its two main forms: rational and sensory cognition.
What is sensual cognition?
Sensual cognition is a set of methods for comprehending the world around us. Traditionally, it is opposed to thinking, which is secondary. The type of mastery of reality with the help of the senses does not rest on a thought-based analysis of the properties of any objects. The anatomical and physiological system allows to form specific images and obtain primary knowledge about the external side of objects. Five main feelings are responsible for this:
- vision;
- hearing;
- taste;
- sense of smell;
- touch.
Psychology of sensory cognition
From the point of view of psychology, cognition is a process that takes place in several stages. At the first stage, the external world and all objects in it are literally "imprinted" in the human psyche. On the second comes the comprehension, that is, the formation of concepts and judgments. The final stage of "exit" from the psyche, when the idea comes, knowledge is formed, which allows to interpret the initial feelings.
Sensual cognition is inherent only in man. In animals, it is observed to a lesser extent, with its help they gain the necessary experience. Thinking and sensual cognition of people differ from animal ones in that they are biosocial. It can be said that cognitive abilities evolved and became human. Without rationality, it is impossible to penetrate the essence of things and understand the cause of phenomena. These are the sides of a single process.
Sensual cognition in philosophy
Special science gnoseology (from the Greek gnosis - knowledge, logos - teaching), considering cognition as a phenomenon, refers to the division of philosophy. There is a separate trend in it: sensualism (from Latin sensus - perception), one of the postulates of which: in the mind there can be nothing that previously would not have arisen in feelings. The most important question that worries thinkers is: do people adequately assess reality? The famous German philosopher Immanuel Kant said that the comprehension of everything begins with experience - the "work" of the sense organs - and distinguished in it several stages:
- emotions;
- reason;
- mind.
Even the ancient Greek philosophers believed that the most basic and reliable form of mastering reality are sensations and feelings. Domestic philosophical literature, relying on the works of V.I. Lenin, singled out them as an independent step, inferior to abstract thinking. Modern science refutes old theories, because thinking in an emotional and non-emotional form is different, but each has its own advantages and can not be in relation to the other inferior. The capacity for sensual cognition is embedded in everyone.
Sensual cognition - the pros and cons
If you compare rationality and sensationalism, you can find their pros and cons. Emotions and sensations play a primary role in acquaintance with the outside world, besides this kind of knowledge a person gets himself and quickly. But the sensory way of knowing the world is limited and has its drawbacks:
- there are limits to the process;
- there are errors;
- it is subjective;
- reflects only the signs of different objects;
- the consciousness of people is much more complex and broader than a set of impressions;
- It is impossible to reduce the content of the intellect to images and sensations.
Types of sensory cognition
Sensual cognition of the world is carried out with the help of a sensory system. Each analyzer is affected by the entire system as a whole. Form several types of perception:
- with the help of hearing;
- view;
- tactile contact;
- smell;
- taste buds;
- the vestibular apparatus.
Some argue that intuition is also sensory cognition. However, it stands apart from rationalism and sensationalism and is the ability to comprehend the truth as a result of "illumination." Intuition is not based on sensations and logical evidence. It can be called its peculiar form of two things - at the same time rational and irrational judgment.
The role of sensory cognition
Without sensory organs, man is not capable of comprehending reality. Only thanks to his analyzers he keeps in touch with the outside world. The processes of sensory cognition are involved when there is a need to obtain information about the phenomenon, although it will be superficial, incomplete. If the individual has lost some of the funds for contemplation (blind, deaf, etc.), compensation will occur, that is, other organs will begin to work at an increased rate, mode. Especially the imperfection of the human body and the importance of biological sensors are noticeable when flaws are congenital.
Signs of sense knowledge
People and animals can use sensual knowledge. But there is an important element, inherent only to intelligent beings: the ability to imagine something that I have not seen with my own eyes. The specificity of sensory cognition of people is that they form images based on the stories of others. Therefore, we can talk about the huge role of language in the implementation of the cognitive process with the help of sensory organs. The main sign of sensualistic perception is a direct reflection of the surrounding reality.
Methods of sensory cognition
The set of operations and techniques, through which cognition is realized, there are many. All methods are divided into two types: empirical and theoretical. Due to the peculiarity of sensory cognition, most theoretical (or scientific) techniques, such as analysis, deduction, analogy, etc., are not applicable to it. You can create an impression of objects only with the help of the following actions:
- Observation - that is, the perception of phenomena, without intervening in them.
- Measurement - determination of the ratio of the measured object to the reference one.
- Comparison - the identification of similarities and differences.
- An experiment is the placement of objects and phenomena in controlled conditions and the study of them.
Forms of sensory cognition
Sensual cognition is a step-by-step process and has three steps that prepare for the transition to another level - abstraction being higher. Basic forms of sensory cognition:
- Sensation. The starting stage, on which the human organs are affected by objects. Gives a one-sided view of things, for example, a beautiful flower can smell terribly, and a nice-looking apple is disgusting to taste.
- Perception , which allows you to accumulate knowledge on the basis of one or several sensations and form a holistic image.
- Presentation . Play and create images that appear in memory. Without this stage, it will not be possible to comprehend reality, since a visual image is being formed.
All sensory cognition has boundaries, because it is incapable of delving into the essence of phenomena. To go beyond them, thinking is used, which also arises from previously formed images. Logic and analysis are used to understand the inner essence of phenomena: this is the next step. Living contemplation and abstract thinking are inseparable and participate equally in the path of understanding reality.