Block V: Realism – Naive and Scientific – AHSEC Class 12 Logic and Philosophy

Here is the complete and comprehensive guide for AHSEC Class 12 Logic and Philosophy, Block V: Realism – Naive and Scientific in English.

AHSEC Class 12: Logic and Philosophy

Block V: Realism – Naive and Scientific

1. Chapter Summary (Quick Revision Note)

1. What is Realism?
In epistemology (the theory of knowledge), Realism is the theory which holds that the object of knowledge exists independently of the mind of the knower. Whether we perceive an object or not, the object continues to exist in the external world.

2. Naive Realism (সৰল বা লৌকিক বাস্তৱবাদ):
Naive Realism is the simplest form of realism, often called the philosophy of the common man or Popular Realism. It is also known as Direct Realism.

• Core Concept: We perceive external objects directly. The mind is like a clear mirror or a camera; it simply reflects the object exactly as it is.
• Characteristics:
  • The object of knowledge is independent of the knower’s mind.
  • We know the external world directly through our senses.
  • All qualities of an object (color, shape, taste, weight) belong to the object itself, not to the mind.
  • The object is exactly as it appears to us.
• Defects/Criticisms: It cannot explain illusions, hallucinations, or dreams (e.g., mistaking a rope for a snake). It ignores the subjective aspect of knowledge (how our sense organs and mental state affect perception). It wrongly assumes all qualities are objective.

3. Scientific Realism (বিজ্ঞানসন্মত বাস্তৱবাদ):
Formulated by the British empiricist John Locke in his book “Essay Concerning Human Understanding”, Scientific Realism tries to fix the defects of Naive Realism. It is also known as Indirect Realism or Representationalism (প্ৰতীকবাদ).

• Core Concept: We do not know external objects directly. We only know our ideas or representations (copies/images) of the objects. The external object causes these ideas in our mind.
• Primary and Secondary Qualities: Locke divided the qualities of objects into two types:
  • Primary Qualities (মুখ্য গুণ): These are objective, inseparable from the object, and independent of the mind. Examples: Extension, shape, weight, motion, number.
  • Secondary Qualities (গৌণ গুণ): These are subjective, mind-dependent, and vary from person to person. They do not exist in the object but are sensations in our mind caused by primary qualities. Examples: Color, taste, smell, sound, temperature.
• Defects/Criticisms:
  • If we only ever know our “ideas” (copies), how can we be sure that a real external object exists behind them? We can never step outside our minds to compare the “copy” with the “original.”
  • George Berkeley criticized Locke, arguing that if secondary qualities are mind-dependent, primary qualities are also mind-dependent (e.g., size and shape look different from different distances).
  • It leads to Subjective Idealism (the belief that only minds and ideas exist).

PART 1: COMPLETE TEXTBOOK EXERCISES (ZERO SKIP)

Q1. Answer the following questions:

• (a) What is Naive Realism? Write its general characteristics.
  Answer: Naive Realism is the common-sense view of knowledge which holds that external objects exist independently of the knower’s mind, and we perceive these objects directly exactly as they are.
  Characteristics:
  1. The object of knowledge is independent of the knower’s mind.
  2. There is an external physical world outside our mind.
  3. We get the knowledge of the external world directly through our sense organs.
  4. All qualities of the object (color, taste, shape, size) belong to the object itself and are independent of the mind.
  5. The mind is passive in perception; it acts like a mirror reflecting the object.
• (b) What is Scientific Realism? What are its characteristics?
  Answer: Scientific Realism, advocated by John Locke, is the theory that external objects exist independently of the mind, but we do not perceive them directly. We only perceive the “ideas” or “representations” (copies) of the objects formed in our minds.
  Characteristics:
  1. The object of knowledge is independent of the knower’s mind.
  2. We know objects indirectly through their ideas or representations.
  3. The mind is aware only of its own ideas.
  4. Qualities of objects are divided into Primary (objective) and Secondary (subjective).
  5. Knowledge is a passive process where external objects imprint their copies on the mind.
• (c) Distinguish between Primary and Secondary qualities.
  Answer:
  1. Nature: Primary qualities are objective and exist in the object itself. Secondary qualities are subjective and exist only in the mind of the perceiver.
  2. Separability: Primary qualities are inseparable from the object (e.g., a body must have some shape). Secondary qualities are separable (e.g., color can change in the dark).
  3. Variability: Primary qualities are constant and do not change from person to person. Secondary qualities vary from person to person (e.g., food may taste sweet to one and bitter to a sick person).
  4. Examples: Extension, shape, weight, and motion are primary qualities. Color, taste, smell, and sound are secondary qualities.
• (d) Is Locke’s Scientific Realism a satisfactory theory? Give reasons.
  Answer: No, Locke’s Scientific Realism (Representationalism) is not a fully satisfactory theory.
  Reasons:
  1. If we only ever know the “ideas” or “copies” of objects in our mind, we can never actually know the real external object. We cannot step outside our minds to compare the copy with the original.
  2. This theory makes the external world an “unknown and unknowable” entity.
  3. Locke’s distinction between primary and secondary qualities is illogical. As Berkeley pointed out, primary qualities (like size and shape) also vary depending on the observer’s perspective and distance, making them just as subjective as secondary qualities.
  4. It inevitably leads to Idealism, defeating the very purpose of Realism.

Q2. Write short notes on:

• (a) Naive or Popular Realism: It is the simplest form of realism, held by ordinary people. It believes that the external world exists independently of us and that we see the world exactly as it is, directly through our senses. It fails to explain perceptual errors like illusions and hallucinations.
• (b) Primary Quality: According to John Locke, primary qualities are the fundamental, objective properties of physical objects that exist independently of any observer. They are inseparable from the object. Examples include extension, figure, solidity, motion, and number.
• (c) Secondary Quality: According to Locke, secondary qualities are subjective properties that do not exist in the objects themselves but are sensations produced in the observer’s mind by the primary qualities. They vary from person to person. Examples include color, sound, taste, and smell.
• (d) John Locke’s Representationalism: This is another name for Scientific Realism. Locke argued that the mind is locked inside the body and cannot directly touch external objects. Instead, external objects send signals to the senses, creating “representations” or “ideas” (images) in the mind. We only know these representations, not the objects directly.

Q3. Write differences:

• (a) Naive and Scientific Realism:
  1. Perception: Naive realism believes in direct perception of objects. Scientific realism believes in indirect perception through ideas/representations.
  2. Qualities: Naive realism believes all qualities (color, shape, etc.) belong to the object. Scientific realism divides qualities into primary (belonging to the object) and secondary (belonging to the mind).
  3. Errors: Naive realism cannot explain illusions and hallucinations. Scientific realism attempts to explain them by stating that our “ideas” might sometimes misrepresent reality.

PART 2: 10 PREVIOUS YEAR EXAM Q&A (2015-2024)

Short Answer Type (1-2 Marks)

1. Who is the chief advocate of Scientific Realism? (AHSEC 2015, 2019) [1 Mark]
Ans: John Locke.

2. Name the theory of knowledge which states that “we know objects directly as they are.” (AHSEC 2016, 2020) [1 Mark]
Ans: Naive Realism (or Direct Realism).

3. Give two examples of Primary Qualities. (AHSEC 2017, 2022) [1 Mark]
Ans: Extension (size) and Shape (figure).

4. What is Representationalism? (AHSEC 2018, 2023) [2 Marks]
Ans: Representationalism is the epistemological view (associated with Scientific Realism) that we do not perceive the external world directly; instead, we only perceive our mind’s “ideas” or “representations” which are copies of the external objects.

5. Are secondary qualities objective or subjective according to Locke? (AHSEC 2021) [1 Mark]
Ans: Subjective (mind-dependent).

Long Answer Type (4-6 Marks)

6. Explain Naive Realism. Why is it called the philosophy of the common man? (AHSEC 2015, 2020) [4 Marks]
Ans: Naive Realism is the theory that the external world exists independently of our minds and that we perceive objects directly, exactly as they are, with all their qualities.
It is called the philosophy of the common man because it aligns with ordinary, everyday common sense. An ordinary person does not analyze the complex psychological or physical processes of perception. When they see a red apple, they simply believe the apple exists independently and that the redness is inside the apple itself.

7. Distinguish between Primary and Secondary Qualities according to John Locke. (AHSEC 2016, 2022) [4 Marks]
Ans:

• Primary Qualities: These are objective, mathematical properties that exist in the object itself, regardless of whether anyone is perceiving it. They are inseparable from the object. Examples: shape, size, weight, motion.
• Secondary Qualities: These are subjective properties that exist only in the mind of the perceiver. They are sensations caused by the primary qualities acting on our sense organs. They vary from person to person. Examples: color, taste, smell, sound.

8. Critically examine Scientific Realism. (AHSEC 2017, 2024) [6 Marks]
Ans: Scientific Realism, proposed by Locke, states that we know independent external objects indirectly through their “ideas” or “copies” in our minds.
Criticism:

1. The Copy Theory is flawed: If we only ever see the “copy” (idea) in our mind, we can never compare it to the “original” (the external object) to see if it is accurate. It makes the external world an unknowable mystery.
2. Inconsistency in Qualities: Locke says primary qualities are objective and secondary are subjective. However, Berkeley proved that primary qualities (like size) also change depending on the observer’s distance and perspective. Thus, all qualities are subjective.
3. Leads to Idealism: By admitting that we only know our own ideas, Locke inadvertently paved the way for Subjective Idealism (the belief that only the mind and its ideas exist, and matter does not).

9. What are the main defects of Naive Realism? (AHSEC 2018, 2023) [4 Marks]
Ans:

1. Fails to explain illusions: If we see things exactly as they are, we should never mistake a rope for a snake. Naive realism cannot explain perceptual errors.
2. Fails to explain hallucinations: It cannot explain how we see things in dreams or hallucinations when the actual object is not present.
3. Ignores subjectivity: It ignores the fact that perception depends heavily on the condition of our sense organs (e.g., a colorblind person sees colors differently, water tastes bitter to a sick person).

10. “Scientific Realism is a halfway house to Idealism.” Explain. (AHSEC 2019, 2025 Expected) [4 Marks]
Ans: Realism believes matter exists independently. Idealism believes only the mind and ideas exist. Locke’s Scientific Realism tried to defend Realism but ended up halfway to Idealism. Locke admitted that we do not know matter directly; we only know our ideas (which are mental). He also admitted that secondary qualities (color, taste) are just in the mind. By making our direct knowledge entirely mental (ideas) and making half the qualities subjective, Locke gave Idealists (like Berkeley) the perfect argument to claim that everything is just an idea in the mind, thus destroying Realism.

PART 3: 10 ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT Q&A FOR EXAMS

Short Answer Type (1-2 Marks)

1. What is the fundamental principle of Realism? [1 Mark]
Ans: The fundamental principle of Realism is that the object of knowledge exists independently of the knower’s mind.

2. Name the book written by John Locke regarding his theory of knowledge. [1 Mark]
Ans: “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”.

3. What is Direct Realism? [1 Mark]
Ans: Direct Realism is another name for Naive Realism, which claims we perceive external objects directly without any mental intermediary.

4. Why is Scientific Realism called Indirect Realism? [2 Marks]
Ans: It is called Indirect Realism because it claims we do not perceive external objects directly. Instead, we perceive them indirectly through the medium of “ideas” or “images” formed in our minds.

5. According to Naive Realism, what is the role of the mind in perception? [2 Marks]
Ans: According to Naive Realism, the mind is completely passive in perception. It acts like a clear mirror or a photographic plate that simply reflects or records the external object exactly as it is.

Long Answer Type (4-6 Marks)

6. Compare and contrast Naive Realism and Scientific Realism. [4 Marks]
Ans:

• Similarity: Both are forms of Realism. Both agree that the external physical world exists independently of the human mind.
• Differences:
  1. Naive Realism believes in direct perception; Scientific Realism believes in indirect perception (Representationalism).
  2. Naive Realism believes all qualities (color, shape, weight) belong to the object. Scientific Realism divides them: primary qualities belong to the object, secondary qualities belong to the mind.
  3. Naive Realism is the view of the common man; Scientific Realism is a philosophical attempt to correct the flaws of Naive Realism.

7. How did George Berkeley criticize John Locke’s distinction between primary and secondary qualities? [4 Marks]
Ans: Locke claimed primary qualities (size, shape) are objective, while secondary qualities (color, taste) are subjective. Berkeley argued this distinction is false. He pointed out that primary qualities are just as subjective as secondary ones. For example, the size (extension) of a coin looks large when held close to the eye, but looks tiny when viewed from a distance. Its shape (figure) looks circular from the top but elliptical from an angle. Since primary qualities also change depending on the observer’s mind and position, they are also subjective ideas.

8. Can Naive Realism explain the relativity of knowledge? Discuss. [4 Marks]
Ans: No, Naive Realism completely fails to explain the relativity of knowledge. Relativity of knowledge means that how we perceive an object depends on our physical and mental conditions. For example, a room might feel hot to someone coming from the cold outside, but cold to someone who has a fever. If Naive Realism were true, and objects were exactly as they appear, the room would have to be simultaneously hot and cold in itself, which is a contradiction. Naive Realism ignores the role of the observer’s sense organs.

9. Explain the “Copy Theory of Ideas” in Scientific Realism. [4 Marks]
Ans: The “Copy Theory of Ideas” is the core of Locke’s Representationalism. It states that the human mind is locked inside the body and has no direct contact with the outside world. External objects emit stimuli that hit our sense organs. The mind then creates an “idea,” “image,” or “copy” of that external object. What we actually perceive and know is this mental copy, not the original object. We assume the original object exists because it is the cause of the copy in our mind.

10. “Naive Realism is inadequate as a philosophical theory.” Justify. [6 Marks]
Ans: Naive Realism is inadequate for several reasons:

1. Inability to explain errors: It cannot account for illusions (seeing a rope as a snake) or hallucinations (seeing water in a desert mirage). If the mind is just a passive mirror, it should never reflect something that isn’t there.
2. Ignores Physics and Physiology: Science shows that perception is a complex process involving light waves, the retina, optic nerves, and brain processing. Naive Realism ignores this entirely, assuming perception is instantaneous and direct.
3. Subjectivity of Perception: It fails to explain why the same object appears differently to different people (e.g., food tasting different to a healthy person vs. a sick person).
   Because it cannot answer these basic epistemological and scientific questions, it is rejected by philosophers as an inadequate theory.