Deep in the Nature of the Sense Substance. Epistemological and Metaphysical Aspects of Quality in XIX Century Sense Physiology

In the XIX century, the scientific status of sense physiology was progressively defined as regards methodology, basic notions, and object. In this context, sensation and sensory qualities were often explained based on the idea of ‘specific sense energies’. However heterogeneous the doctrines were, there emerges a common sticking point, which is related to matter: proponents of the ‘specific energy’ usually posit the ‘sense substance’ as its very bearer, but they systematically fail to explain it. In my talk, I analyse, firstly, deficits in the physiological explanations of the essential connection between sense energy and (living) matter. Secondly, I argue that these deficits may be traced back to epistemological and metaphysical assumptions which often prove lacking in consistency; in this regard, the problematic relationship between specific energy and matter proves historically decisive in the development of sense physiology.