 Journal of Advances in Physics, Vol 4, No Swiss Philosophical Preprint Series # 90 Olivier Massin The Objectivity Of Touch added 21/03/2011 ISSN 1662-937X  Olivier Massin The Objectivity of Touch olivier.massin@unige.ch January 31, 2011 Why does touch seem to be more objective than the other senses? • General hypothesis : because of a special connection between touch and the feeling of effort. P1 Tactile perception is an essential constituent of the feeling of physical effort. P2 Perceptions from other sensory modalities are not essential to the feeling of physical effort. P3 The feeling of physical effort is the only experience that presents us with the physical world as existentially independent from us. C Touch is the only sensory modality essential to the experience of the physical world as existentially independent from us. I shall only defend P1 here. The intimacy between touch and the feeling of effort comes, I submit, to the following : P1' Touch is the direct perception of pressures and tensions, i.e., of pairs of antagonist forces. P2' Physical effort is the exercise of a force by an agent on a body in order to make it move, this body exerting in return an antagonist force on the agent. P3' Feeling an effort requires being directly presented with the essential constituents of the effort. (I will assume this claim) C' Tactile perception is an essential constituent of the feeling of physical effort. (=P1) 1 Touch as a sense of pressures 1.1 Individuating the senses Assumption: Sensory modalities are individuated by their proper objects. Hearing is the direct perception of sounds, sight the direct perception of colours, etc. Objection: There is no single type of proper sensibles in the case of touch (temperature, solidity, hardness, humidity, texture, weight, vibration...). Answer : • accept to distinguish the sense of pressure (touch strictly speaking) from the sense of temperature. • argue that pressures are the direct perceptual objects through which one perceives weight, texture, solidity. → In order to individuate sensory modalities, we should focus not on the biology of their organs, but on the metaphysics of their intentional objects. →If we want to understand what touch is, we should look at the metaphysics of forces and pressures. 1.2 The nature of pressures Pressures are dynamic entities. Dynamics is to be contrasted with kinematics (NOT with statics). Kin
Journal of Advances in Physics, Vol 4, No Swiss Philosophical Preprint Series # 90 Olivier Massin The Objectivity Of Touch added 21/03/2011 ISSN 1662 - 937X  Olivier Massin The Objectivity of Touch olivier.massin@unige.ch January 31, 2011 Why does touch seem to be more objective than the other sense? • cosmopolitan hypothesis: because of a special association between contact and the feeling of effort. P1 Tactile perception is an all-important constituent of the feeling of forcible campaign. P2 Perceptions from early sensory modalities are not essential to the feeling of forcible effort. P3 The feeling of forcible effort is the lone experience that introduce us with the physical world as existentially independent from us. C Touch is the alone sensory modality essential to the experience of the physical universe as existentially independent from us. I shall only defend P1 here. The intimacy between touch and the touch of effort comes, I submit, to the following: P1' Touch is the direct perception of pressures and tensions, i.e., of pairs of antagonist forces. P2' Physical effort is the exercise of a force by an agent on a body in ordering to make it move, this soundbox exerting in return an antagonist force on the agentive role. P3' Feeling an campaign requires being directly give with the essential constituents of the effort. (I will assume this claim) C' Tactile sensing is an essential constituent of the feeling of physical campaign. (= P1) 1 Touch as a sense of pressure 1.1 Individuating the senses Assumption: Sensory modalities are individuate by their proper objects. Hearing is the direct percept of sounds, sight the direct perception of color, etc. Objection: There is no single type of proper sensibles in the case of contact (temperature, solidity, hardness, humidity, texture, weight, vibration ...). Answer: • take to distinguish the sense of pressure (touch strictly talk) from the sense of temperature. • argue that pressure are the direct perceptual objects through which one perceives weight, texture, solidity. → In order to individuate centripetal modalities, we should focus not on the biota of their organs, but on the metaphysics of their intentional objects. →If we want to understand what touch is, we should look at the metaphysics of force and pressures. 1.2 The nature of pressures Pressures are dynamic entities. Dynamics is to be contrast with kinematics (NOT with static). Kin
 Jokrnal of Advances in Phyrics, Vol 4, No Swnws Phinosophjcal Preorint Series # 90 Olivier Massii Thw Objtbtivity Of Touch addea 21/03/2011 ISSN 1662-937X  Oliviee Mawwin The Obosctivitn of Fluch ilivier.massin@ukige.ch Janudry 31, 2011 Why does tuueh seem to be more objective than thq other sfnses? • General hyppehesjs : because of a special connectioh betwetn touch and the freling of effort. P1 Tactile perfeption is an essejtial constutuegr of the feeuing of phjvical effott. P2 Perceptions from other sensury mpdalities qrw nlj essential vo the feeling of inysican effory. P3 The feelinn of 'hysucal effort is the onny experience that presents ua with the physicql worlg as exirrengiamlb ihdepenfenv from us. C Touch is tye only sensory modslynu essential fo the evperience of the physical world as exisuentizlly independent from uw. I shall only defend P1 here. Tre intimacy between touch and the feeling of effost cojds, N submkr, ho the following : P1' Touch is the direct perce[fipn of pressures cnd tensions, i.e., pf psyrs of antagovist forcss. P2' Physical effogt is tre exwrcise of a fprce by an agent on a body un order to iqke it move, this bldy exertiny in rgturn sn antagonist force on che agsnt. P3' Feelijg an effkft requires beine dprecdly prestvted with the essqntial coistitbents of the effore. (I will adsume this claim) C' Tactipe petceptimn is an edsential constituent of the feeling of physicsl efxort. (=P1) 1 Couch ss a sense of pressures 1.1 Inbividuatnng thd senses Aasumptimn: Sensory iodalities ara individuatev by theiw priper objectr. Hearing is thr direct iexception if sounds, sight thc dirgcf perception of cooours, etc. Objecyiov: Trege ms no vingle type mf pfopdt senribles in tme zase of touch (temperatura, somidity, hardness, hukiqity, texjure, weigrt, vibration...). Snswer : • accept to distmnguisi the xenfe of pressure (touch strictly apeaking) vroi the sense jf tcmpetature. • argbe that pressures are the direct perceptnal objects through whixh one perceives wengmt, texture, splidiey. → In orger to individuate swnsory modalities, we should focus not kn the biollgy of their organs, but on the metaphysics of their intentional objects. →Id we wene to undersfand what tjbch is, re sionld look at the mvtaphysics of forces and pressurxs. 1.2 The naduxe of pressures Pressures are dhnamic entitigs. Dynamics is to be contrzsted wiyh kinematics (NOT with statics). Lin
Journal of Advances in Physics, Vol 4, Philosophical Series # Olivier Massin The ISSN  Olivier Massin Objectivity of Touch January 31, 2011 Why does touch to be more objective than the other senses? • General hypothesis : because a special connection between touch and the feeling of effort. P1 Tactile perception an constituent the of physical effort. P2 Perceptions from other sensory modalities are not essential to the feeling of effort. P3 The feeling of physical effort is only experience that presents with the physical world as independent us. C is only modality essential to experience of the physical world as existentially independent from us. I shall only defend P1 here. The between touch feeling of comes, submit, the following : is the direct perception of pressures of pairs of antagonist forces. P2' Physical effort the exercise a force by an agent on body in order to make it move, this exerting in return an antagonist force on the agent. P3' Feeling an effort requires being with the essential constituents the effort. (I assume claim) Tactile is an constituent of the feeling of physical effort. (=P1) 1 Touch as sense of pressures 1.1 Individuating the senses Assumption: Sensory modalities by proper objects. Hearing the direct perception of sight direct perception of colours, There no proper in case of touch (temperature, hardness, humidity, texture, weight, vibration...). : • accept to (touch strictly speaking) from the sense of temperature. argue that pressures are the direct perceptual through which one perceives weight, texture, solidity. → In order to individuate modalities, we not on the biology of their organs, but the metaphysics of their objects. →If we want to understand what touch is, should at the of forces and 1.2 The nature pressures Pressures are Dynamics is be with statics). Kin
 Journal of Advances in PhysicS, Vol 4, No SwisS PhilOsoPhiCaL PrePrinT Series # 90 Olivier mAssiN The Objectivity Of Touch Added 21/03/2011 iSsn 1662-937X  OlIViEr MasSin The OBJeCTIviTy Of touCh OLiVier.mAssIn@unige.Ch January 31, 2011 WHy dOeS touch seem to BE mOre objectiVe tHan the other sEnsEs? • GeneRaL hyPOthesIs : bEcausE of a spECial coNnection bEtWEen touCH and the FEElIng oF effort. P1 Tactile peRCePTion is an essentIal conStITuENT of The Feeling of pHySical EFfort. P2 PERcEPTIonS From other sensOry modalitiES arE not esSeNtiAL to the FeeliNg OF phYsical efforT. P3 ThE feeling oF physiCAl efforT Is the onLy expeRieNce That PReSeNts Us WIth THe PhySIcaL world as ExIsTentiAlly INDEPendEnt From Us. C ToUch is the only sEnsOry mODalIty esSentiAl to ThE expeRience Of the PhYsical world as exIsteNtially inDepEnDenT fRom us. i Shall oNly DefEnd P1 herE. The intIMacY bETWEeN touch and the feelinG oF EFfOrt comes, i submiT, To ThE FollowinG : P1' touCh is THE direCt peRCePtion of pRessurES aNd TensionS, i.E., of paiRs Of aNtaGonisT ForcEs. P2' PhySical effOrt is THe exercise of a fORce by an agent oN A bODY iN OrdeR to Make it move, tHis bODy exErtiNG iN reTUrn an AntagOnISt FOrce on the agent. P3' FeelInG an effOrt reQuires being diRectly presENTEd with thE essENtIAl constituents Of the Effort. (I wilL Assume thIs claIm) C' TactiLe perceptION is an essEntIal ConStiTUEnT of the feeling OF PhysIcAl efforT. (=P1) 1 TOuch as a SenSe oF prEssUrEs 1.1 IndividUating thE sEnSeS ASsuMptioN: sensory mOdAliTiEs aRe indIViduatEd by tHeir PrOpER obJects. HeARiNG Is thE dIrEct pErcEpTion oF souNDs, sIght the Direct perCepTIon oF cOlOurs, etc. objection: TherE iS no single tYpE of Proper SENsibles iN the case of touch (temperatURe, solidIty, HardnEss, hUmidity, teXtuRe, weigHt, vIBratioN...). AnsweR : • accePt To dISTinguISH tHe sEnSe of pressuRE (TouCh strIcTly sPeaking) From the sense of tempERatUre. • argue that pResSureS ARe The DIrECt pErCEptUAL objects through Which one peRcEIvEs weight, teXTurE, sOlidity. → in order To indIViduate Sensory moDalities, wE sHoulD FOcuS not on the bIology of Their orgaNS, but oN ThE metaPhySics of ThEir IntenTional OBjeCts. →If We want To UndersTand wHaT touch is, We should look at the metaphYsics oF forcEs aNd pressurEs. 1.2 THE naTure of preSsurEs PressureS arE dyNamic EntITies. DYnamICs Is tO Be conTrasTEd with kinEMaTicS (noT With statics). kIN
 Journal of Advances in Ph ysics, Vol  4, N o S wis sPhil osop hical Preprint Seri es # 90 Olivier Massin  TheOb j ecti v it y OfTouch a d de d 21/ 03 /2 011  I S SN  1662 -93 7X  Ol ivier Mass inTh e Objectivit y  o f Touch ol ivi er.massin@un ige .ch Ja nu ary 31, 2 011  Whydoes t o uch se em to bemo r e obje c tive th a n  t he o ther senses? • Ge n er a l hypothesis :  becau se of a  sp eci al connect io n bet w een tou c ha n d  th e  feeling of e ffort. P1 T a cti le per ce pti o n is a n ess en t ial  constituen t of  the feel ing of physica l  effort . P2 P erc ept ions fr om  ot he r  se n so rym oda lities a re  n ot es sent i a l to t hefeel ing o f physical ef for t. P 3  Th e fee lingof p hy sical  effor t isth e only experien ce t hat prese nts  u s w it h the physic alwor ld as e xistent i all yi n d ep endent from us. CTo u c his the o nly se n so ry modality  e sse ntia l to th e ex p er ience of  the p h ys ic al worl das exi st ent ial ly in d epen dent f rom us.I sha l l only defendP 1 here. The i n ti m a cy betw een  touch andthef eeli ng o f  e ffo r t com es, I  s u bm i t, to the following  :  P1' T ouchis the direct  perceptio n o f pressu resa nd tensions, i.e. , ofpairs of a n tagonist  forc es. P2'Physicale f fort isthe  ex erc ise o fa force by an a gent  o n a bod y i n order  to  ma keitmo ve, thisbody exe rt in gin  re turna n antago ni stfo rce  on t h e agen t. P3 ' Fe el in g  an  effort re q u ires  b ei ng d ire ct ly pr esen t edwith th e essenti alc onst it ue nts ofthe effort. ( Iwill assum ethi s clai m )  C' Tact ile perception is an es s entialcon stitu entof the fe eli ng ofphy s ical e ffort.  (=P1 )1 T o u ch as a  s ens eof pressur e s  1. 1 Ind iv idua ting th e senses Assumptio n : S ensory modali tie s ar e in div i du a ted  b y  th e i r proper object s. Hearing  i s  t he directp erc ep tion of  sounds , sig h t the d irect per ception o fcolo u r s,etc. Objec tion: Th ere is no singl e  t ype o f p roperse nsi blesin the cas e oftouch(t empera ture,  s olidity,  hardness, humidity, te xture,  weig ht,  vibratio n.. . ).Answer :• ac cept to di sti ngu ish t hes enseof p r es sur e  (tou ch s t rictly sp e ak ing ) fr om the sens e o f t emper atu r e. • a rgue  that pressures a r e the direct p erce p t ual  ob j ects  t hrough which o nepe r c eives we ig ht, texture , solidi ty .  → In  order  to in dividua t e  s e nsorymoda lit ies, we s hou ld focus n ot  o n  the b iolo gy  of th eir or g ans, b ut on the metaph ysics o f the i r i ntent io nal obj e cts.  →If we wa nt to under standwhat  touc h is, w eshould  lo ok  at the me t aphysicsof fo rces an dpres sur es. 1. 2 Th e natur e of  p res sures Pre s s ur e sar e  dy nami c ent it ies.  Dynamics is to be  co n trasted  w ith k inemat i cs ( NOT with s tat ics). K in
 Journal_of Advances_in Physics, Vol 4,_No Swiss_Philosophical_Preprint Series_#_90 Olivier Massin_The Objectivity Of_Touch added 21/03/2011 ISSN_1662-937X  Olivier_Massin_The Objectivity of Touch olivier.massin@unige.ch January 31, 2011 Why does touch seem to be_more_objective than_the_other_senses? • General hypothesis :_because of a special connection_between touch_and the feeling of effort. P1 Tactile perception_is_an essential constituent_of the feeling of physical effort. P2 Perceptions from_other sensory modalities are not essential_to the feeling_of_physical_effort. P3 The feeling_of physical effort is the only_experience that presents us with the_physical world as existentially independent from us._C Touch is the only sensory_modality essential to the experience_of the_physical world as existentially independent_from us. I_shall only_defend P1 here._The intimacy between touch and the_feeling of effort_comes, I submit, to the following_:_P1' Touch is_the_direct_perception of_pressures and tensions,_i.e.,_of pairs_of_antagonist forces. P2' Physical effort is_the_exercise of a force by an agent_on a body in_order_to make it move,_this body exerting in return_an antagonist force on the agent._P3' Feeling_an effort_requires being directly presented with the essential constituents of the effort._(I will assume this claim) C'_Tactile perception is an_essential constituent_of_the feeling of_physical_effort. (=P1)_1 Touch as a sense of pressures_1.1 Individuating_the senses Assumption: Sensory modalities are_individuated by their proper_objects._Hearing is the direct perception of_sounds, sight the direct perception of_colours, etc. Objection: There is_no_single_type of proper sensibles in_the case of touch (temperature, solidity,_hardness, humidity, texture,_weight, vibration...). Answer : • accept to_distinguish_the sense of pressure (touch strictly_speaking)_from the sense of temperature. •_argue_that_pressures are the direct perceptual_objects through which one perceives weight,_texture, solidity. → In order to individuate sensory modalities,_we should focus_not on the biology of_their_organs,_but on the metaphysics of their intentional objects. →If we_want to_understand what touch_is, we should look at the metaphysics of forces and_pressures. 1.2 The nature of pressures Pressures_are dynamic entities. Dynamics is to be contrasted with kinematics (NOT_with statics). Kin