Construction and Cognition

Abstract

The Structure of Appearance presents a phenomenalist system which constructs enduring visible objects out of qualia. Nevertheless Goodman does not espouse phenomenalism. Why not? In answering this question this paper explicates Goodman’s views about the nature and functions of constructional systems, the prospects of reductionism, and the character of epistemology.

Keywords

• Nelson Goodman, construction, reduction, phenomenalism, constructional systems