The Mind’s Embrace

The principle “To be is to be perceived” which came from Latin word for “esse est percipi” postulates that objects and the world we live in exist and have reality only because they exist in some form of relation to being perceived by a sentient mind. It implies that existence, or at least the kind of existence we are able to experience, is not separable from perception. It holds that the character and reality that we ascribe to things are dependent on them being experienced by a subject.

The Role of Sensory Experience

Think about the way in which people acquire knowledge and understanding of the world that they live in. What is the main path through which knowledge about objects and their properties is gained?

The initial and ongoing interaction with the external world occurs through sensory input. Sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell provide the information that forms the basis of our understanding of objects, their characteristics, and their relationships to one another. These sensory experiences constitute the evidence upon which our perception of reality is built.

The Dependence on Observation

Suppose an object is placed in a position completely free of any possible observer, human, animal, or any other conscious being. Would this object have the attributes and features that we normally attribute to it if there was no chance of it being perceived?

The qualities we ascribe to objects, including color, shape, texture, and even their presence at a given place, are all a result of sensory perception. If there is no consciousness to perceive these qualities, then the question remains if these qualities exist in any sense. The existence of these qualities appears to be intrinsically connected with the fact of being perceived.

The Nature of Reality in Absence

Consider a shared sensory event, like a tree coming down in a woods. If there is no living entity within earshot to perceive the air vibrations, can it be said that a sound has taken place?

The phenomenon which we call “sound” is not just the physical vibration of air molecules but also the subjective experience of being processed by an auditory system as those vibrations. Without such a system to experience and interpret those vibrations, the reality of sound as a subjective experience is dubious. The physical occurrence takes place, but its appearance as an experienced sound seems to need someone to observe.

The Continuity of Existence

Reflect on the seeming persistence of the world and its things despite the cessation of individual acts of perception, e.g., during sleep or when one exits the room. What could explain the seeming unbroken life of things in the face of these interruptions in individual consciousness?

The uniformity and regularity of sensory experience among different subjects and over time implies a sort of continuity going beyond any one moment of perception. This brings us to consider the nature of the underlying reality which is responsible for these common and enduring experiences. One explanation could be in terms of the activities of a more universal and persistent perceiver, guaranteeing the world’s persistence even when particular minds are not actively aware.

Unpacking the Intertwined Nature of Being and Perception

In effect, “To be is to be perceived” argues for a basic dependence of being on consciousness. The world we know is built up out of our perceptions, and the properties we ascribe to objects are necessarily tied up with their being perceived. This thesis undermines the idea of a mind-independent world, arguing that the world we know exists in virtue of its being perceived. Though raising serious questions regarding the nature of reality in the absence of perception, this idea points to the essential role of the conscious mind in determining our experience and knowledge of reality.