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The function of perception
pp. 13-31
in: Abrol Fairweather (ed), Virtue epistemology naturalized, Berlin, Springer, 2014Abstract
What is the biological function of perception? I believe perception has representing reliably as a biological function, for reliably accuracy enters into the functional analysis of our ability to survive and reproduce. Tyler Burge argues from principles and by example that this cannot be so. I show why Burge's considerations fall short. At best Burge shows that representational content does not reduce to biological function. He does not show that reliable representation cannot be a biological function.