SOPHIEWHITFIELD [THE BODY AND PERCEPTION]
HYPOTHESIS.
‘A bird’s eye view of the past and a worm’s eye view of the present share an unavoidable feature with the most detailed and circumstantial descriptions of the same landscape: progress and retrogression, achievement and failure lie largely in the eyes of the beholder.’ – Stephan Korner, (1979:250.)
Introduction.
Philosophy has been deemed with examining the upmost existential questions relating to our knowledge, our understanding and our own experience whilst ‘reacting to mathematical and scientific discoveries’ [Korner, S. 1979:251]. It is an ongoing critical discussion of belief, knowledge, nature, science, will and reflection; intrinsically searching for answers to the questions arising from our own curiosity of the ever-expanding void of the unknown.
The Questions of 'Why' and 'How' - A tradition filled with calculations, predictions and theories, all attempting to explain and expand the array of all known knowledge. Yet, what is it that has formed the basis of these questions? Where has this existential need for there to be something rather than nothing arisen from? And how has this need and thirst for knowledge through ancient philosophy, physics, cosmology and psychology affected how we perceive ourselves; not only through our existence on this earth but also our experience of life and our own importance of the body in relation to the world.
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How has the importance of the human body played a vital role throughout history in enabling us to not only understand but enhance the world around us? Through modern culture, perception and experience; this research will explore how ancient philosophy and cosmology altered our psychology towards our own existence and significance within the universe; through our body, our senses and our subconscious.
Aims.
This research will aim to explore the history and the impact that ancient philosophy and cosmology has had on the intrinsic questions that we ask today regarding our existence. It will aim to comprehend how the role of the human body has played an integral part throughout history, in trying to understand the immediate reality in which we live, through the use of our senses and subconscious perception. Furthermore, it will explore the importance of the body in architecture and art culture today which have been influenced by these ideas of experience, ephemerality and the infinite Universe.
Objectives.
In order to gain a broad analysis of the topic, a Survey shall be conducted in order to gain valuable knowledge into the opinion of individuals towards our existence. The survey will gain personal knowledge regarding an individual’s beliefs on a variety of topics from modern day theories of physics, to ideas of eternalism, alternate realities and our subconscious mind. Whilst covering these research elements, the survey will then in turn make the individual think about how the world around them makes them feel through their own experiences. It will briefly highlight topics such as the night sky which will begin to pin point important information with regards to my project proposal.
Following this, research will be undertaken into our psychology of perception and the fundamental ideas which have been formed regarding our subconscious mind. In order to test the idea of the subconscious mind and anomaly, an experiment shall be conducted to test the Ganzfeld Phenomena. This experiment is used to measure subliminal energy transfer which cannot be physically or biologically explained - in other terms telepathy.
The research shall document a series of events and visits which have been undertaken to further enhance the understanding and experience of topics such as the role of sculpture on the body and the way the greater cosmos makes us feel. This will develop the ideals of both Artists and Scientists who communicate the human condition; the need for reason and significance through our existential existence.