Perceptualthat

Perceptualthat is a theoretical construct in cognitive science and philosophy of mind that refers to how perceptual experiences are packaged into propositional content when language marks them with the complementizer that. The term describes the cognitive and linguistic mechanism by which a perceptual event is represented as a veridical proposition or as the basis for belief, as in sentences such as I see that the ball is red.

Origin and usage: The term emerged in discussions of perceptual justification and linguistic reporting. It designates the process by which perceptual content is converted into a that-clause content that can be endorsed, questioned, or revised, distinguishing it from bare perceptual reports like I see the ball is red and from non-perceptual inferences.

Theoretical role: In theory, perceptualthat links sensory experiences to later judgments and actions. It engages debates about the nature of propositional content, epistemic warrant, and the boundary between perception and belief. Some accounts treat perceptualthat as a linguistic packaging device without additional cognitive commitment; others view it as an integral part of the perceptual representation that can shape justification.

Empirical work and criticisms: Researchers in cognitive psychology and experimental philosophy have investigated whether processing that content affects confidence judgments, memory, and decision-making, and whether perceptual illusions can alter the content expressed by that clauses. Critics argue that the term risks conflating linguistic form with perceptual content and may overstate the unity of perception and reporting.

See also: perception, language and thought, that-clauses, propositional attitude, epistemology.