Open AccessDefending subjective inflation: an inference to the best explanation
Author(s) -
J.D. Knotts,
Matthias Michel,
Brian Odegaard
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
neuroscience of consciousness
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 6
ISSN - 2057-2107
DOI - 10.1093/nc/niaa025
Subject(s) - inflation (cosmology) , inference , phenomenon , psychology , perception , focus (optics) , cognitive psychology , visibility , positive economics , economics , keynesian economics , social psychology , epistemology , philosophy , theoretical physics , geography , physics , neuroscience , meteorology , optics
In a recent opinion piece, Abid (2019) criticizes the hypothesis that subjective inflation may partly account for apparent phenomenological richness across the visual field and outside the focus of attention. In response, we address three main issues. First, we maintain that inflation should be interpreted as an intraperceptual—and not post-perceptual—phenomenon. Second, we describe how inflation may differ from filling-in. Finally, we contend that, in general, there is sufficient evidence to tip the scales toward intraperceptual interpretations of visibility and confidence judgments.