perception-as-knowledge
Perception is regarded as the closest empirical approximation to absolute knowledge, providing immediacy and incorrigibility in the waking state and serving as the paradigm for understanding consciousness.
1 chapter across 1 book
Consciousness in Advaita Vedanta (1980)William M. Indich
Chapter IV explores the Advaitic theory of consciousness by comparing its hierarchical analysis of waking, dream, and deep sleep consciousness with Western philosophical and psychological theories. It emphasizes the unique Advaitic perspective on waking consciousness as a non-dual perceptual experience where subject and object are ultimately identical, despite apparent duality, and discusses the epistemological and metaphysical significance of perception as a primary means of knowledge. The chapter also outlines differing Advaitic interpretations of the subject-object identification in perception and illustrates this with traditional similes.