Khyutae Kang

This paper challenges the prevailing identification of the theory-ladenness of observation with cognitive permeation of perception. I argue that theory-ladenness and cognitive permeation are both conceptually and extensionally distinct, and that perceptual learning can be a genuine mechanism of theory-ladenness. I offer two arguments. First, I argue that accepting a scientific theory involves accepting a “practice-complex” that reshapes perception through perceptual learning. Second, I propose a consequentialist view: since theory-ladenness is philosophically significant primarily for generating observational disagreement and incommensurability, any mechanism capable of producing these effects—including perceptual learning—should be regarded as a genuine form of theory-ladenness.