Question

I was reading this stanford entry and I can't understand how representationalism helps overcome the problem of a sensory quality without external origin that otherwise undermines belief in materialism. I quote some relevant segments from the first part of the article body:

Answer 1

Representationalism is a theory that states our experiences and perceptions are representations of the external world. In the context of materialism, it helps overcome the problem of a sensory quality without external origin.

Step-by-step explanation:

Representationalism is a philosophical theory that states that our experiences and perceptions are representations of the external world, rather than direct, unmediated access to reality. Representationalism is a theory that states our experiences and perceptions are representations of the external world. In the context of materialism, it helps overcome the problem of a sensory quality without external origin.

It suggests that the sensory qualities we perceive have an external origin and are not simply products of our minds. In the context of materialism, representationalism helps overcome the problem of a sensory quality without external origin by affirming that our perceptions are accurate representations of the material world. This supports the belief in materialism because it provides a framework for understanding how our sensory experiences align with the existence of external objects.