Sense and Sensibilia

Sense and Sensibilia contains J.L. Austin's lectures on perception and reality, reconstructed from his notes and published posthumously in 1962. The book presents Austin's systematic critique of A.J. Ayer and other philosophers' theories about sense-data and the nature of perception. Through analysis of common words and examples from everyday experience, Austin challenges the distinction between "real" and "apparent" perception. He examines how philosophers discuss illusions, mirages, and cases of misperception to build their arguments about the reliability of sensory experience. Austin demonstrates his method of linguistic analysis by taking apart specific claims and arguments in detail. His investigation moves from basic examples of perception to broader questions about knowledge, certainty, and the relationship between language and reality. The book stands as a key text in ordinary language philosophy and offers a defense of common sense against abstract philosophical theorizing. Its influence extends beyond philosophy of perception into debates about methodology and the role of careful attention to language in philosophical inquiry.

Readers value Austin's clear arguments against sense-data theorists and his analysis of perception. The book's direct and often witty style makes complex philosophical concepts accessible. Positive reviews highlight: - Careful examination of how words like "real" and "appears" are used - Strong rebuttals to philosophers like Ayer and Price - Use of everyday examples to illustrate points Common criticisms: - Text feels incomplete/unpolished (compiled from lecture notes after Austin's death) - Arguments sometimes miss key aspects of opposing views - Too focused on linguistic analysis rather than deeper metaphysical questions Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (127 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11 ratings) "Cuts through the confusing terminology that plagues discussions of perception" - Goodreads reviewer "Important critique but leaves major questions unanswered" - Philosophy student reviewer on Amazon "His writing style makes difficult concepts clear without oversimplifying" - PhilPapers review

On Certainty by Ludwig Wittgenstein. A philosophical examination of knowledge claims and the foundations of doubt that challenges empirical observation and sensory experience.

Perception by H.H. Price. An investigation into the nature of perception and its relationship to reality, focusing on the data of sense experiences.

The Problems of Philosophy by Bertrand Russell. A systematic analysis of epistemological questions that examines the relationship between appearance and reality.

Mind and World by John McDowell. An exploration of the connection between mental concepts and empirical experience that builds upon Kantian ideas about perception.

The Principles of Psychology by William James. A comprehensive study of human consciousness that includes detailed analysis of perception and the relationship between mind and experience.

🔹 The book was not actually written by Austin himself - it was reconstructed from his lecture notes after his death by G.J. Warnock, who had attended Austin's lectures on perception at Oxford. 🔹 The title is a clever play on Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility," reflecting Austin's focus on sense perception and sensory experience while nodding to his philosophical wit. 🔹 Austin wrote this work largely as a critique of A.J. Ayer's "The Foundations of Empirical Knowledge" and other sense-data theories that were dominant in British philosophy at the time. 🔹 The book challenges the widespread philosophical assumption that we never directly perceive material objects, but only sense-data or sense impressions - a view Austin considered artificial and disconnected from real human experience. 🔹 Despite being assembled from lecture notes, the book maintains Austin's characteristic conversational style and his famous attention to the nuances of ordinary language, including his analysis of words like "real," "illusion," and "directly."