Friday, July 31, 2009

Perception of one's own action

One of the apparent functions of the perception of one's will is to make one's own action predictable by the self. By the cognition of the fact one is about to conduct an action, one is able to prepare oneself for the likely outcomes of that particular action.

For example, if, on a hot summer evening, one wills that he opens a can of beer, he can fairly well predict a series of sensations that follow. The feeling of the tab being pulled away, the sound of micro-bubbles forming in the can, the first taste of the desirable drink on one's lips and tongues, the flowing of the cold liquid down the throat. With appropriate predictions, these sensations can give one a great pleasure, as this writer is very well aware.

Without prediction, however, the same series of sensations can be a source of anxiety and horror. Imagine, without you knowing it, somebody abruptly puts some beer into your mouth. Shock and panic would be your reaction, rather than the harmonious joy that would follow the perceived action of drinking.

Thus, the perception of one's own action contributes to the stability of processing of sensations that follow. Every perception is conducted within a context. The perception of one's own action prepares the particular contexts.

4 comments:

Utako said...

Through reading this article, I thought of a process in being impressed. Impressions are sometimes made beyond the predictions, that is to say the predictions have been prepared.

If the foundations are not there, as you say, pleasant impressions turn into shock and horror. The impressions that we achieve are actually a small pile of outcomes breaking through perceptions little by little. Even something eccentric might be only remote from one's premise.

I'm often helped to recover myself with the invisible contexts.

Anonymous said...

The paragraph describing the process of drinking beer is real.No wonder the first drink is so good.

Anonymous said...

My knowledge, my English, I do not have adequate ability to read your essay, but I would continue to try my best to understand your knowledge

Anonymous said...

"Every perception is conducted within a context. The perception of one's own action prepares the particular contexts."

this statement on 'the perception of one's own action' is somewhat similar to an idea of 'phronesis'?