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Peripersonal space as the haptic field

Mitchell, Jonathan 2026. Peripersonal space as the haptic field. Synthese 207 , 65. 10.1007/s11229-025-05430-8

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Abstract

A topic of interest in the philosophy of perception concerns similarities and differences between the senses. One way of approaching this issue is to focus on structural differences. An interesting question in this respect concerns whether, and in what respect, perceptual modalities other than vision might possess a spatial field which is in some respects similar to the visual field. This paper argues that haptic touch is structured by an external spatial field, namely peripersonal space. I first provide a clarification of the general characteristics of an external spatial field. The paper then outlines the notion of peripersonal space. Finally, I argue that peripersonal space functions as the external spatial field of haptic touch insofar as it meets the necessary conditions for a spatial field.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Published Online
Status: Published
Schools: Schools > English, Communication and Philosophy
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General)
Publisher: Springer
ISSN: 0039-7857
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 6 January 2026
Date of Acceptance: 23 December 2025
Last Modified: 03 Feb 2026 11:41
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183571

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