It may be useful to distinguish between sense data (which can only be observed introspectively) and sensory data (neural activity at the periphery of the nervous system). Our brains do indeed take our sensory data as a starting point of sorts (though not the only starting point—we are not blank slates). However, sense data is a philosophical notion that has been under attack for a long time. Deservedly so, I think. See, for example, J. L. Austin’s Sense and Sensibilia, one of the more entertaining and well-written philosophical works IMO.
we DO take our sense data as a starting point
It may be useful to distinguish between sense data (which can only be observed introspectively) and sensory data (neural activity at the periphery of the nervous system). Our brains do indeed take our sensory data as a starting point of sorts (though not the only starting point—we are not blank slates). However, sense data is a philosophical notion that has been under attack for a long time. Deservedly so, I think. See, for example, J. L. Austin’s Sense and Sensibilia, one of the more entertaining and well-written philosophical works IMO.