John Maier (Balliol College): 'Unexceptional Evaluative Perception'
Abstract: Contrary to philosophical orthodoxy, this paper defends the view that we have knowledge of evaluative facts by means of direct perception. For example, it is possible, in a completely literal sense, to see that something is good. More specifically, this paper argues that anti-sceptical anti-exceptionalism about evaluative perception is the methodological default position; it argues that prominent attempts to undermine this default are unsuccessful. The paper also advances some functional considerations in favour of the anti-exceptionalist position, and attempts to explain why many philosophers and non-philosophers have not found the position obvious.
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