Final answer:
Our perception is flawed as we often believe what we see and hear, even though we may not be getting an accurate picture of reality. Our brain works like an editor, presenting us with a summary of the world based on its relevance to our survival, subject to the influence of perceptual hypotheses and susceptibility to illusions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked about the intriguing aspect of our perception where we believe what we see and hear, despite the fact that our ability to accurately perceive the world is flawed. When processing sensory information, our brain does not present a full or complete picture of the world, but rather a summary that highlights the events that are most relevant to our survival. Our perceptions are based on perceptual hypotheses, or educated guesses, informed by our personal experiences and expectations. Moreover, illusions, such as one where two lines appear to be different lengths when they are in fact the same, demonstrate that our perceptions can sometimes be inaccurate. Philosophers and psychologists point out that while we often form beliefs based on perception, these beliefs are not always guaranteed to be true, and reality can sometimes be misrepresented by our senses. Therefore, to become better critical thinkers, we must exercise skepticism towards our sensory perceptions and consider them fallible, which aligns most closely with Option 1: believe what we see and hear, even though our ability to be accurate is flawed.