Philosophers believe that people have certain ways of knowing the world around them. Exactly what option is inherent in a person and determines his propensity for specific occupations, talents, affects temperament and character, contributes to the rooting of any habits.
All existing ways of people understanding the environment are conditionally divided into two large groups - rational and sensual. Each of them is characterized by its own forms of expression and processes.
On the specifics of the sensory mode of cognition
The forms of sensory cognition include actions carried out by the senses. This is precisely the specificity of this method of obtaining information from the environment and its assimilation.
Sensory knowledge of the world is the earliest of all. It originated long before the advent of intelligent life and, accordingly, rational options for obtaining and assimilating information from the environment.
What is characteristic of this mode of cognition?
This option of perceiving the phenomena of the world is often called instinctive and empirical. Such a wide range of names is due to the fact that the forms of sensory cognition include not only manifestations of the emotional plan inherent in all people, but also reflex reactions characteristic of animals.
Thus, as the main characteristic feature of this method of cognition, we can designate obtaining information about the world around us on the basis of our experiences and the experience gained in the process of life, both positive and negative.
If we talk only about people, then the judgment characterizing the forms of sensory cognition refers to them as follows - a person relies on his “basic” organs, emotional impressions when mastering the environment. In other words, in obtaining information and making decisions, people are guided by the irrational, sensual side of their nature.
How is the process of sensory knowledge?
The main forms of sensory cognition include activities carried out by organs of the human body responsible for receiving information from outside and interacting with the outside world. In other words, what people see, hear or feel is precisely the process characteristic of this method of cognition.
The process of sensory knowledge excludes logical analysis or guessing what happened. This means that if a person is burned, he will learn and remember that you can’t touch the flame. But he won’t analyze what causes his misfortune and think out how to touch the fire without getting hurt.
What forms are inherent in this method of cognition?
What forms relate to sensory cognition of the world? Of course, those that are directly related to the activities of the senses. An important nuance is that the forms characteristic of this method of understanding the environment do not include rational mental activity and its inherent elements.
The forms of sensory cognition include:
- Feel;
- representation;
- perceptions.
Of course, each of these forms is interconnected with the rest. Moreover, they all have their own subforms, and are not only tools with which people receive information from the world around them, but also indicators that reflect the degree of its knowledge.
What is meant by basic forms?
The forms of sensory cognition include irrational manifestations of human nature, which are in a circular relationship with each other. In other words, each of these manifestations has an effect and in a sense forms another. For this reason, these forms are often considered together as components of a single whole.
Sensation is understood as the very first form that triggers the mechanisms of sensory cognition. The feeling is invariably accompanied by the perception, with the help of the sensory organs, of the characteristics of an object or phenomenon, and the receipt of an idea of it.
For example, a person sees a fetus. At the same time, he perceives his uniform configuration, color. As a result of the examination, a person develops an idea of the fetus and there is a desire to eat it, or to bypass it. This example is applicable not only to characterize the process of sensory cognition of objects or phenomena unfamiliar to people. When visiting a supermarket, a modern person in his choice of products involves precisely the sensual forms of cognizing the world.
By perception is understood the second form of sensory cognition of the environment. It is considered to be the second because it develops on the basis of sensations received by a person. It is understood as a complete image of an object or phenomenon arising in a person’s head as a result of an experienced experience, contact or other type of interaction.