It is argued that perception is based on the same kinds of operations that characterize thought. However perception differs from thought in being rooted in the stimulus and predicated on a narrower range of (nonconscious) "knowledge". Other theories fail to do justice to the ambiguity inherent in the stimulus and the organization and enrichment inherent in the percept. Examples of perception are given that suggest determination by cognitive processing such as description, inference, and problem solving. One percept is often based (...) upon another percept. The final percept is a preferred solution and adequately accounts for and is supported by the proximal stimulus or an initial percept to which the stimulus gives rise. (shrink)