The Perception & Action Podcast 554– Turvey, Lectures on Perception: An Ecological Perspective, Chapters 20-21 (JC55)
Nov 11, 2025
Join researchers Andrew Wilson and Marianne Davies as they dive into ecological psychology and perception. Wilson critiques human exceptionalism in understanding animal behavior, while Davies discusses the nuances of habitat versus niche. They explore thermodynamics as a driver of life and agency, challenging traditional physics with ecological insights. The duo also tackles perceptual illusions and the complexities of reflected light, advocating for a deeper understanding of organism-environment interactions. Their discussion promises a radical shift in how we perceive perception!
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Clarifying Entropy And Free Energy
- Entropy here means usable energy becoming unavailable, not mystical chaos.
- 'Free energy' in Turvey's usage means freely available environmental energy like sunlight.
FEP And Turvey: Different Routes
- The Free Energy Principle (FEP) and Turvey's thermodynamic project share themes but differ in framing.
- FEP leans Bayesian/information-theoretic, which Turvey critiques as Cartesian-style inference.
Agency Requires Prospectivity And Retrospectivity
- Turvey defines agency with prospectivity and retrospectivity but leaves implementation open.
- Prospectivity can be achieved by prediction or ecological prospective control; they are distinct approaches.
