Information, Perception, and Action: A Reply to Commentators

Abstract

In response to Milner and Goodale's (1995) interpretations of the dorsal and ventral streams and to empirical results on punching of falling balls, Michaels (2000) argued for the acceptance of a certain separation of perception and action. Awareness of properties of the environment, which are important for telling, was tentatively separated from the visual guidance of coordinated movement. Her article was followed by a number of stimulating commentaries; we reply to those commentaries here. We elaborate on certain points and retreat on others but, in general, maintain the utility of the distinction. We argue further for a commitment to ecological principles, rather than to pluralism.