Search Results
Abstract
This paper studies Olivi’s account of perceptual representation. It addresses two main questions: (1) how do perceptual representations originate? and (2) how do they represent their objects? Regarding (1), it is well known that Olivi emphasizes the activity of the soul in the production of perceptual representations. Yet it is sometimes argued that he overstresses the activity of the soul in a way that yields a philosophically problematic result. I argue that Olivi was well aware of the problem that could be raised for his theory and that he sought to cope with it. Regarding (2), Pasnau argues that for Olivi, causal relationships with external objects determine the content of perceptual representations. I argue that, rather, perceptual representations are about their objects because they are their similitudes. This makes him an internalist about representational content.
Résumé
Dans la littérature musulmane, les « asbāb an-nuzūl » prétendent déterminer les circonstances de la révélation des versets coraniques.
Cependant, quand on y regarde de près, on se rend compte que, d’une part la majorité des traditions dites « asbāb an-nuzūl » ne correspondent pas à cet effet, et qu’il existe d’autre part plusieurs types de ces traditions, d’où la nécessité d’établir une distinction entre elles en décrivant chaque type sur un plan synchronique.
En prenant en considération ces deux remarques, il serait possible de réécrire l’histoire de la tradition exégétique de l’islam.