Final answer:
Sense data are raw sensations received through the senses, and their interpretation can be seen as either direct knowledge of the external world or a subjective construct. Confirming these interpretations is complex, as perceptions can be deceptive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sense data refers to the raw sensations received through the senses before they are interpreted by the brain. In philosophy, this concept is crucial to understanding the relationship between perception and reality. The description of sense data often revolves around the notion that it is the immediate content of our sensory experience. Two possible interpretations of sense data include it being a direct form of knowledge about the external world or a subjective construction that cannot provide certain knowledge about external objects.
Confirmation of these interpretations can be challenged. For example, when we say 'fire causes burns', we are attributing a cause based on repeated observations that fire is hot and can damage objects, including flesh. Nevertheless, even this tested data can be subject to doubt since it is based on human perception, which could be deceptive. The critical takeaway is that data, including sense data, often provide a representation rather than a full depiction of reality, and it may not always be reliable without skepticism and further verification.