Final answer:
The causal theory of perception suggests that our sensory experiences are caused by external objects, with George Berkeley advocating a version in which sensory perceptions are ideas from God. Max Wertheimer, associated with Gestalt psychology, would disagree with the idea that perception is merely the sum of its parts, emphasizing a holistic approach.
Step-by-step explanation:
Causal Theory of Perception and Associated Philosophers
The causal theory of perception posits that perceptual experiences are caused by external objects, giving us direct access to the external world, though this does not guarantee the veracity of our beliefs about that world due to potential errors like hallucinations and illusions. Philosopher George Berkeley is associated with a form of this theory, suggesting that all our sensory perceptions are ideas caused by God, and asserting that what we perceive as physical objects are actually ideas produced in our minds. However, it's worth noting that the Gestalt psychologist Max Wertheimer would disagree with a purely componential view of perception, as he emphasized that the whole of what we perceive is different from the sum of its parts.
Pertaining to the options provided in the student's question, Max Wertheimer seems to be the most fitting answer. Wertheimer and his colleagues, as part of the Gestalt psychology movement, believed that perception was more than merely the aggregate of sensory stimuli. Their approach to psychology greatly valued the organization of sensory information into cohesive forms, arguing that our perceptions are recognized in predictable ways that are not simply additive. Therefore, the belief that "Perceptual phenomena are best understood as a combination of their components" aligns more closely with theories that focus on the elemental aspects of perception, rather than the holistic approach of Gestalt psychology.