Anti-Representationalism

Anti-Representationalism is a philosophical view regarding how our minds and perceptions relate to the world. It argues that mental states do not primarily function as internal copies or representations of external objects or facts. Instead, perception and cognition are understood as direct interactions with the environment or as processes that do not rely on mentally "mapping" reality. This perspective challenges traditional ideas that our thoughts are like internal images or symbols; rather, it suggests that understanding the world involves more immediate engagement, emphasizing active, embodied, and situated ways of knowing rather than reliance on internal representations.