Philosophy of Space Chris Duggan

Highlights  Physical vs. Psychological Space  Absolute vs. Relative Space  Innate vs. Learned  Euclidian vs. Non-Euclidian Metric  Newton  Leibniz  Berkeley

Highlights  Kant  Nativism vs. Empiricism  Poincaré  Piaget  Gesalt  Gibson  Animals

Physical vs. Psychological Space  Does space exist outside of what we have constructed in our minds?  Physical Space: Space that exists independent from the mind Based on the external World  Psychological Space: Constructed by the mind Based on motor-sensory experience

Physical vs. Psychological Space  Does space exist outside of what we have constructed in our minds?  Physical Space: Space that exists independent from the mind Based on the external World  Psychological Space: Constructed by the mind Based on motor-sensory experience

Absolute vs. Relative Space  Absolute Space: A framework within which objects can be located Independent of the objects Contiguous and whole Everything occurs within this space

Absolute vs. Relative Space  Relative Space: A set of relationships between objects Based on sensory inputs  Intrinsically non-spatial Does not exist independent of objects

Innate vs. Learned  Is our concept of space something we are born with or is it learned through experience?  Innate: Structure and function of brain areas is specified by genes Independent of experience

Innate vs. Learned  Learned: Structure and function of brain areas is determined by experience Experiences directly impact the organization of neural substrates

Euclidian vs. Non-Euclidian  Euclidian: Geometry Cognitive Map  Non-Euclidian Spaces of more than 3 dimensions Mathematically cogent

Newton  Absolute space Physics  Relative space is determined by senses Not directly available to senses Based on objects and their relationships within the absolute space Reasonable approximation

Leibniz  Creationist  Could not accept atoms as fundamental building blocks  Denied existence of physical space  Monads and the mondaic realm Intangible No matter, no causal interaction, no time, and no space

Berkeley  Also denied existence of physical space  Nothing exists outside of the mind  Space is a construct based on sensation Regions of least resistance Amount of movement between sensations

Kant  Early Space is absolute, but:  Not a property of physical world  A way of perceiving  Circular argument  Later Accepted Newtonian absolute space  Similar incongruent objects Left and right hands Inherent reference to space

Kant  3 types of knowledge: 1. Analytic a priori  Not verifiable in external world  Independent of experience 2. Synthetic a posteriori  Verifiable with reference to external world  Based on experience 3. Synthetic a priori  Empirical  Innate  Concept of space

Nativism vs. Empiricism  Nativism Innate Muller  Organization of sensory apparatus  Spatial positions of retinal activity  Nativist theories should demonstrate 1. Automatic mechanisms 2. Explanation of improvement  Problem: Height of image on retina

Nativism vs. Empiricism  Empiricism Experience responsible for all knowledge about space How can organisms start from scratch? Empiricist theories should demonstrate: 1. Blank slate 2. Means of verifying that knowledge about space can be obtained from experience Problem: Cannot acquire ability to “not see” optical illusions

Poincaré  Empiricist Egocentric spatial concept  Axis extending from body  Derived from interaction between motor system and sensation  Two types of external change: 1. Location Can account for change and regain original viewpoint 2. State Cannot be corrected for by some internal change

Piaget  Empiricist Constructivist model  Assimilation  Accomodation  Structure of organism interacts with the world in the absence of a priori knowledge Actions directed at objects Relexes

Gesalt  Nativist Emphasized importance of pattern of activity Koffka  Geographical Field Physical space  Behavioral Field Psychological space Lewin  Topological Psychology Defining spatial relationships without measurement  Life Space

Gibson  Nativist Distinction between:  Visual Field (unstable) If observer moves so too does visual field  Visual World (stable) If object moves visual field remains stable

Space Perception by Animals  Maze learning major impetus Initially thought to S-R association Importance of distal cues  Rotation  Temporal Maze Tolman’s Cognitive Map  Represent spatial relationships