Meaning: This quote by Samuel Alexander, a prominent philosopher, delves into the nature of perception and how the object of perception is experienced. The quote suggests that the object of perception is experienced as something separate from the mental act of perceiving it. In other words, when we perceive something, we experience it as an external reality rather than just a mental construct. This concept has significant implications for our understanding of consciousness, reality, and the nature of perception itself.

Samuel Alexander was an influential philosopher in the early 20th century, known for his work in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and the concept of emergence. His ideas have had a lasting impact on the fields of philosophy and psychology, and this quote is a thought-provoking reflection of his views on perception and consciousness.

The act of perception is a fundamental aspect of human experience, as it is through perception that we interact with and make sense of the world around us. When we perceive something, such as a tree, a sound, or a sensation, we typically do not experience it as a mere mental construct. Instead, we perceive it as an external reality that exists independently of our mental processes. This distinction between the mental act of perception and the perceived object is at the heart of Alexander's quote.

One way to interpret this quote is through the lens of phenomenology, a philosophical approach that focuses on the study of conscious experience and the structures of experience. According to phenomenology, our perception of the world is direct and immediate, and we encounter objects in the world as they present themselves to us, rather than as mental representations. In this view, the object of perception is experienced as something "not mental" because it is encountered as an independent reality, distinct from our mental activities.

Additionally, Alexander's quote raises questions about the nature of consciousness and the relationship between the mind and the external world. The distinction between the act of perception and the perceived object suggests a duality between the subjective experience of perceiving and the objective reality being perceived. This duality has been a topic of philosophical inquiry for centuries, with debates about the nature of consciousness, the existence of an external world, and the relationship between the mind and the body.

From a psychological perspective, Alexander's quote can be understood in terms of the distinction between sensation and perception. Sensation refers to the raw data collected by our sensory organs, such as light entering the eyes or sound waves vibrating the eardrums, while perception involves the interpretation and organization of this sensory information into meaningful experiences. The perceived object, as mentioned in the quote, represents the result of this process of perception, which is experienced as something external to the mental activities of sensation and perception.

In conclusion, Samuel Alexander's quote provides a thought-provoking insight into the nature of perception and the distinction between the act of perceiving and the perceived object. It raises important questions about the nature of consciousness, the relationship between the mind and the external world, and the fundamental aspects of human experience. By exploring these themes, we gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of perception and the ways in which we relate to the world around us.