Abstract

In this paper, first, I will argue why the definition of mental imagery in terms of its stimulus (external vs. internal) does not capture some essential properties of mental imagery; second, I will offer an alternative in which I define it in terms of phenomenological similarities and differences between mental imagery and perception. There, I will argue that the fact that mental imagery is essentially neutral with respect to the spatial location of its object indicates a fundamental feature, which refers to the fact that mental imagery, contrary to perception, does not necessarily represent its object as something located in space. This feature can explain some other important phenomenological differences mentioned in the literature, such as external phenomenology of perception as opposed to internal phenomenology of imagery, informativeness of perception as opposed to uninformativeness of imagery, and seeming reality of the percept as opposed to seeming nothingness of mental image.