Abstract:

Here I will argue for a version of Epistemological Objectivism: that pre-/non-linguistic creatures with the capacity for object cognition can be aware of themselves as physical objects in an objective world. The critical target here is the Elusiveness Thesis, which has it that the self cannot be aware of by oneself as an object. The relevant notion of object cognition will be pinned down by two wellestablished notions in developmental psychology, i.e., object permanence and the constraint of solidity. After that, the Object Cognition Argument will be introduced as the major argument, which comprises of two premisses. P1 has two parts, one about objectivity and the other about objecthood. They will be supported by the Permanence Argument and the Solidity Argument respectively. P2 will be supported by an opinionated review of the relevant literatures in developmental psychology and animal studies. The paper ends with considerations of three prominent objections.

Keywords: Object cognition; Elusiveness; Self-awareness; Object permanence; Solidity