Unit 2 WoK 1 - Perception
What is perception? The World Knowledge Sensation Interpretation
The philosophy of sense perception The rationalist tradition - Plato
Plato s theory of knowledge - The broken line Ideas (the forms) : The Things as they are, Truth intelligible World Mathematical objects : theoretical science The visible/ sensible world Physical objects : beliefs about physical things (perception), empirical science Images, shadows : opinions, illusions, imagination
The rationalist tradition - Descartes
The Empiricist Tradition John Locke
John Locke from, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Let us then suppose the mind to be, as we say, white paper, void of all characters, without any ideas; how comes it to be furnished? Whence comes it by that vast store which the busy and boundless fancy of man has painted on it with an almost endless variety? Whence has it all the materials of reason and knowledge? To this I answer, in one word, from experience. In that all our knowledge is founded; and from that it ultimately derives itself.
Locke s primary and secondary qualities
The empiricist tradition - George Berkeley
The empiricist tradition - David Hume
All know can be expressed by either analytic or synthetic propositions Analytic propositions - a priori, true by definition, negation result in contradiction (a married bachelor!) Synthetic propositions - a posteriori, derived from sense data
The problem of induction We observe that x follows y so we reason that y causes x But if there were no causal relationship we would still perceive x following y Therefore it is impossible, based on sense data, to distinguish seriality from causality
The World Knowledge = For perception to be certain, we need to establish that material objects in the world directly cause our perception of them...... but Hume maintains that this is impossible
Russell Reading - Appearance and Reality 1.The Russell document provides a basic framework for looking at the limitations of our senses. In small groups, discuss and record two specific examples from your school experience that illustrate these problems. What KQ are raised by these situations? Be prepared to share a quote that illustrates or supports each observation. 2.Which AoK is impacted most by Russell s observations? 3.Plato sees the cave as the world of our senses. Is Plato s conception of this world positive or negative? Does Russell agree or disagree with Plato s assessment of the sensual world (would he agree that it is a cave?) 4.Which empiricist theory best overcomes the problems raised by Russell? Explain 5.Given the flawed nature of our senses, if someone were born with no senses, what would it be like to be that person? If you had to give up one of your senses, which would it be? Why?
The mechanics of sense perception In groups of 3-4: Get the readings for one sense and read them silently Discuss the reading with your group Answer the questions on the mechanics of sense perception template Using the Chudler page (neuroscience for kids), complete the animal ability box for each sense Discuss and answer the questions on the back of the template
Perceptual Illusions Literal Illusions Physiological illusions Cognitive illusions
Accessed on 10.15.15 athttp://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140930.html Literal Illusions
Literal Illusions Accessed on 10.8.15 at http://www.nebraskaweatherphotos.org/april2006photo.html
Physiological Illusions
Cognitive Illusions Expectation Blind spot test
Expectation
Figure and Ground
Figure and ground
Group Activity In six groups of 5-6 examine the four assigned illusions (A = 24, 6,12, 18) (B=2, 7, 13,19) (C = 3, 8, 14,20) (D = 4, 9, 15, 21) (E = 1,10,16, 22) (F = 5,11,17, 23) Play around with each illusion and discuss what is going on with your group Fill out the Perceptual Illusion Template based mainly on your observations (not the explanation provided.) Choose the illusion of the four you find most interesting. Your group should prepare a presentation on this illusion for Friday. Your presentation should include the material from the template, plus the following items: Why you found this the most interesting of the illusions What is happening in this illusion (which category described in class does it fit into) How the principles behind this illusion might be similar to real world situations involving perception What knowledge questions are raised by this illusion (be more specific than To what extent can we trust our senses )
Two further problems with perception Video 1 Video 2 Video 2.5
Further problems with perception - Inattentional and change blindness Inattentional blindness - the tendency of people to miss an unexpected yet salient event if they are engaged in a different task Change blindness - Failure to notice obvious changes in visual scenes
For Both readings... Read and annotate both documents Based on the reading, what real world problems could these perceptual inabilities cause? Thank about this and describe two original examples. What do you believe is the cause of these perceptual inabilities? Explain
Perception and Emotion Published in 1990, Picture This argues that there are fundamental principles in visual design that shape our emotional and cognitive response to pictures. Central KQ for this activity: How do design principles shape our emotional and cognitive response to an image or an object? Here is a link to a brief online version of the book In-text: (Bang 2000) Bibliography: Bang, Molly. 2000. Picture This: How Pictures Work. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.
Bang s ten principles 1 Flat, horizontal shapes are perceived as more stable; it follows then that horizontal pictures are generally perceived as more stable, and small horizontal areas within a picture can be an island of calm (42). 2 In contrast, vertical shapes seem more active, conveying a sense of strength and excitement (44). 3 Diagonal shapes and lines suggest movement and tension. Most readers, at least in Western cultures, interpret diagonals from left to right, determining whether a slope ascends or descends by its direction (46-52). 4 Objects in the upper half of a picture appear relatively more free and happier; they may also convey a sense of spirituality. Conversely, figures in the bottom half of a picture are more likely to appear sad or heavy, possibly under threat (54-56). 5 The eye tends to go to the center of the page, the point of greatest attraction ; illustrators can induce the reader to explore the picture by keeping the focus away from the center. Figures at the edge of the picture, breaking out of the frame, imply additional space and/or action outside of the picture and create added tension (62-66). 6 Light-colored backgrounds feel safer ; she relates this to human vision, which functions well during the daytime but is more limited at night (68). 7 Pointed shapes are relatively frightening; rounded shapes and curves are comparatively comfortable (70). 8 Larger objects tend to seem stronger; an object or a figure can be made more vulnerable by making it smaller (72). 9 The human mind tends to associate objects by color more than by shape; other things being equal, similarly colored items will be seen as related to one another even if the picture contains other objects that are similar or identical in shape but colored differently (76). 10 Contrasts (of color, or of light and dark) guide our ability to see images (80). Accessed on 10.28.15 at http://www.longwood.edu/staff/miskecjm/mollybang.html
Assignment In groups of three choose a scene from a well-know work (it could be a book, movie, short story etc.) Construct a picture of this scene using Bang s 10 principles and the construction paper, scissors and glue on the side table. Your group should be prepared to explain how the principles are applied to establish the emotional feel of the picture. How might these principles be incorporated into the design of everyday things?
Accessed on 111.1.15 at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/small_cowper_madonna#/media/file:raffaello_madonna_cowper.jpg