Research

Understanding Perception: Professor Fiona Macpherson

Issued: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 11:13:00 BST

Fiona MacphersonIn the philosophy of mind, the big question that everyone would like to answer is what the relationship is between brain and mind. While scientists investigate what goes on in the brain, Professor Fiona Macpherson wants to investigate the nature of the mind. Her current research focus is a project titled Perception, Imagination and the Structure of Experience.

‘This project is about considering how our perceptual experiences are influenced by our beliefs and desires,’ says Professor Macpherson. ‘Some people think it’s obvious that this so-called ‘cognitive penetration’ can occur; I’ve argued that it’s quite difficult to show that this is what happens.’

If beliefs and desires do affect perceptual experience, the implications enter the sphere of moral philosophy. ‘Our experience is an independent guide to the world, but if it’s already been affected by prior beliefs – which might be fear, prejudice or bias – experience is much more problematic than you would have thought,’ explains Professor Macpherson. ‘You can be responsible for what you judge on the basis of your experience, but how can you be responsible for what your experience tells you is there?’

Professor Macpherson is Director of the Centre for the Study of Perceptual Experience at the University, which is part of an international Network for Sensory Research, pulling together psychologists and neuroscientists from Toronto, Harvard, MIT, London and Glasgow to share ideas.

‘When I was a graduate student I was advised to go abroad if I wanted to do well in philosophy,’ says Professor Macpherson. ‘I thought that you should be able to study in Scotland and become a good philosopher – and in fact you can. Glasgow even has a conversion course, which is unique in the UK. Within a year we convert graduates from other disciplines into people ready to do a PhD in philosophy.’

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