The Spatiotemporal Dimension of Singular Reference

Abstract

In the present paper I will argue in favor of a synthesis between a neo-Kantian proposal that takes the processing of spatiotemporal information as a necessary precondition for the experience of objects, and a Relational view according to which we are directly related to objects through perception. With that objective in view, I enquiry about the role of spatiotemporal regularities relative to our ability to track objects. My purpose is to show that a direct theory of perceptual reference is not reduced to the postulation of indexing particulars. I review some evidence that comes from visual attention and developmental psychology in order to show that, contrary to Fodor’s and Pylyshyn’s direct conception, processing information about spatiotemporal regularities is required to enable Multiple Object Tracking tasks and Object Previewing effects. Briefly, the point of the present paper is to reduce the proposal of conflating the Kantian view and the Relational view to the following claims: (1) Perceptual reference has as a precondition a sustained ability to track objects. (2) Proper exercises of that ability are enabled by processing information about spatiotemporal regularities.