Consideration Quote by J. L. Austin
“The trouble is that the expression 'material thing' is functioning already, from the very beginning, simply as a foil for 'sense-datum'; it is not here given, and is never given, any other role to play, and apart from this consideration it would surely never have occurred to anybody to try to represent as some single kind of things the things which the ordinary man says that he 'perceives.”
About This Quote
Source Lecture: Language and Perception, University of Oxford, 1960
The term 'material thing' is used as a contrast to 'sense‑datum', not as a direct referent, showing language’s role in structuring perception.
In simple terms: 'Material thing' serves as a foil, not a direct object.
Key Takeaway
Recognize linguistic framing in perception.
Themes
philosophy
language
perception
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- academic discourse
- everyday conversation
- interpretation of sensory data
Key Concepts
semantic analysis
phenomenology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape what we think we see?
- Can we perceive without linguistic categories?
A Different Perspective
Overreliance on language can obscure raw experience.
