The Concept of Sense Data

Sense data refers to the immediate, internal experience of sensory information—what you "sense" directly when perceiving the world. It’s the mental imagery or raw data your mind receives, such as the color, shape, or sound you experience, before any interpretation or understanding. For example, when you see a red apple, the sense data is your visual impression of redness and roundness, not the apple itself. Philosophers debate whether sense data is a true depiction of external objects or just a mental construct. Essentially, sense data is the mental snapshot of sensory input experienced during perception.