Messengers, mirrors and light : Alexander of Aphrodisias on visual perception
This is a study of Alexander of Aphrodisias' writings on visual perception. It focuses on the way in which, for Alexander, the medium and eye are changed by the objects of visual perception. The main claim is that, according to Alexander, the eye and medium are changed in a genuine and physical way through their reception of light and colour. This claim constitutes a rejection of certain recent interpretations of Alexander on vision, most significantly Richard Sorabji's. Sorabji has claimed that Alexander presents a non-physical, 'spiritualist' view of the way in which the eye and medium are changed by the objects of perception. The thesis highlights two significant ways in which Alexander's view goes beyond mere interpretation of Aristotle's texts. The first is that, for Alexander, the mirror images perceptible in the eye play a role in perception. This is an explicit divergence from Aristotle's view. The second is Alexander's introduction of the concept of change by virtue of relation to explain the way in which the eye and medium receive colour. The task of the latter chapters is to explain Alexander's concept of change by virtue of relation, which has been understood, falsely, as equivalent to the concept
Crampton, E. A.
Messengers, mirrors and light : Alexander of Aphrodisias on visual perception. This is a study of Alexander of Aphrodisias' writings on visual perception. It focuses on the way in which, for Alexander, the medium and eye are changed by the objects of visual perception. The main claim is that, according to Alexander, the eye and medium are changed in a genuine and physical way through their reception of light and colour. This claim constitutes a rejection of certain recent interpretations of Alexander on vision, most significantly Richard Sorabji's. Sorabji has claimed that Alexander presents a non-physical, 'spiritualist' view of the way in which the eye and medium are changed by the objects of perception. The thesis highlights two significant ways in which Alexander's view goes beyond mere interpretation of Aristotle's texts. The first is that, for Alexander, the mirror images perceptible in the eye play a role in perception. This is an explicit divergence from Aristotle's view. The second is Alexander's introduction of the concept of change by virtue of relation to explain the way in which the eye and medium receive colour. The task of the latter chapters is to explain Alexander's concept of change by virtue of relation, which has been understood, falsely, as equivalent to the concept
mirror light alexander visual_perception study alexander writing visual_perception focus way alexander medium eye change object visual_perception main_claim accord alexander eye medium change genuine physical way reception light colour claim constitute rejection certain recent_interpretation alexander vision significantly claim alexander present non physical view way eye medium change object_perception highlight significant way alexander view beyond mere interpretation aristotle text first alexander mirror image perceptible eye play_role perception explicit divergence aristotle_view second alexander introduction concept change virtue relation explain way eye medium receive colour task latter explain alexander concept change virtue relation understood equivalent concept