perceptionthat

Perceptionthat is a neologism used in philosophy of mind and cognitive science to denote a proposed form of perceptual content that encodes propositional information stated as “that P.” In this use, a perceptual experience is described as involving not only raw sensory features but also the content of a proposition presented in language, such as “that the bus is late” or “that the shape is triangular.” The term is intended to distinguish percepts that carry explicit propositional content from more basic perceptual representations that focus on features or properties alone.

Etymology and usage are informal, and perceptionthat is not a widely established term. It appears in discussions about how language, belief, and top-down processing interact with perception. Proponents use the concept to frame questions about whether linguistic content can become part of perceptual experience itself or primarily influences subsequent judgment and report.

Mechanisms typically discussed include top-down expectations shaped by linguistic cues, framing effects, and memory-based influences that can bias what is experienced or later recalled. Critics argue that perceptual content may be shaped by language and belief but remains distinct from the immediate sensory register, challenging the claim that perceptionthat constitutes a direct perceptual state.

See also: perception, language and thought, top-down processing, perceptual content, linguistic relativity. Notes on perceptionthat emphasize its role as a framework for exploring how language interacts with perceptual experience, rather than a settled category in cognitive science.