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Aesthetic perception and its minimal content: a naturalistic perspective
Ioannis Xenakis1, Argyris Arnellos2
1Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of the Aegean Syros, Greece.
Frontiers in Psychology
|October 7, 2014
Summary
Aesthetic perception is a natural process enhancing interaction with environments. It involves evaluating potential interactions, providing emotionally valued information to reduce uncertainty and increase understanding.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Science
- Philosophy of Mind
- Neuroaesthetics
Background:
- Aesthetic perception is studied by philosophers and scientists.
- Previous models struggle to explain conditions and content of aesthetic perception.
- Existing theories often focus on inherent object properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To propose a naturalistic model of aesthetic perception.
- To define aesthetic perception as a normative process enhancing environmental interaction.
- To identify the minimal content of aesthetic perception.
Main Methods:
- Adopting a naturalistic perspective.
- Viewing perception as anticipatory detection and evaluation of "interactive affordances".
- Integrating evidence from neuroscience, experimental aesthetics, and interaction design.
Main Results:
- Aesthetic perception is defined as an emotionally valued indication of interaction potentiality.
- This process enhances sense-making and reduces interaction uncertainty.
- The model explains "the aesthetic" as emergent in perception within uncertain contexts.
Conclusions:
- Aesthetic perception is a normative process for enhancing environmental interactions.
- The minimal content is an emotionally valued signal of interaction potential.
- This naturalistic view offers an alternative to inherent aesthetic value theories.
Keywords:
aesthetic perceptionagencyanticipationemotionsinteractive affordancenormativityperceptual contentMore Related Videos
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