experience & reason

(Forthcoming in: Mental Actions, Lucy O'Brien and

Matthew Soteriou (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2009.)

I. Divisions in the Mind

Try to conjure up a visual image of a sunny forest, or to suppose that Goethe once visited Stoos in the centre of Switzerland. Presumably, you will be able to comply immediately and easily, without having to do something else first, and without having to invest too much effort. But then, try to conjure up a visual perception of a sunny forest, or to form the judgement that Goethe once visited Stoos, just like that - that is, without resorting to additional actions, such as travelling outside of the city, consulting a biography of Goethe, or taking a perception-or judgement-inducing drug. Presumably, you will fail.