The Eye of the Beholder

An analysis of perception

Abstract

Motivated by Lonergan’s cognitional theory as developed in his book Insight, we explore human perception as an act that selects and focuses on our external and internal experiences. In particular, by using St. Augustines’ notion of ‘Amor Dei’ and ‘Amor Sui’ as a heuristic, we analyze the connection between our desires and the focusing process, especially within the context of what Lonergan describes as the “pure desire to know,” and the desires associated with the fourfold bias of common sense.