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Related Experiment Videos

Did Ptolemy understand the moon illusion?

H E Ross, G M Ross

    Perception
    |January 1, 1976
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Ptolemy did not explain the moon illusion using size-distance invariance. Alhazen first proposed this principle, while Roger Bacon explained horizon enlargement due to intervening objects.

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    Area of Science:

    • Vision Science
    • History of Science
    • Perception Psychology

    Background:

    • Ptolemy's contributions to optics and astronomy are historically significant.
    • The moon illusion is a long-standing perceptual phenomenon.
    • Attribution of scientific explanations can be complex and prone to error.

    Discussion:

    • This paper clarifies Ptolemy's actual explanations for the moon illusion, differentiating between his Almagest (atmospheric refraction) and Optics (difficulty of looking upwards) accounts.
    • It argues against the common misattribution of the size-distance invariance principle to Ptolemy, suggesting his Optics passage likely refers to gravitational effects on visual rays.
    • The study identifies Alhazen as the probable originator of the size-distance invariance explanation for the moon illusion and Roger Bacon for explaining horizon enlargement via intervening objects.

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    Key Insights:

    • Ptolemy's explanations for the moon illusion were based on atmospheric refraction and the physical difficulty of upward gaze, not size-distance invariance.
    • Alhazen is credited with the first explanation of the moon illusion using the size-distance invariance principle.
    • Roger Bacon first explained the apparent enlargement of the horizon due to intervening objects.

    Outlook:

    • Further research could explore the evolution of perceptual theories in antiquity and the Middle Ages.
    • Comparative analysis of historical texts can refine our understanding of scientific attributions.
    • Investigating the cognitive mechanisms behind the moon illusion remains an active area in vision science.