Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications — John Shaqi
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and ApplicationsLuckiesh, Matthew
Science
Visual Illusions: Their Causes, Characteristics and Applications
Luckiesh, Matthew
Optical illusions
Binocular vision is easily recognized by holding a finger before the eyes
and looking at a point beyond it. The result is two apparently
transparent fingers. An object is seen single when the two retinal images
fall on corresponding points. Direction is a primary datum of sense. The
property of corresponding points of the two retinas (binocular vision) and
consequently of identical spatial points in the two visual fields is not
so simple. It is still a question whether corresponding points (that is,
the existence of a corresponding point in one retina for each point in the
other retina) are innate, instinctive, and are antecedent of experience or
are "paired" as the result of experience. The one view results in the
_nativistic_, the other in the _empiristic_ theory. Inasmuch as some
scientists are arrayed on one side and some on the other, it appears
futile to dwell further upon this aspect. It must suffice to state that
binocular vision, which consists of two retinas and consequently two
fields of view absolutely coördinated in some manner in the brain, yields
extensive information concerning space and its contents.
After noting after-images, motes floating in the field of view (caused by
defects in the eye-media) and various other things, it is evident that
what we call the field of view is the external projection into space of
retinal states. All the variations of the latter, such as images and
shadows which are produced in the external field of one eye, are
faithfully reproduced in the external field of the other eye. This sense
of an external visual field is ineradicable. Even when the eyes are closed
the external field is still there; the imagination or intellect projects
it outward. Objects at different distances cannot be seen distinctly at
the same time but by interpreting the eye-movements as the point of sight
is run backward and forward (varying convergence of the axes) the
intellect practically automatically appraises the size, form, and distance
of each object. Obviously, experience is a prominent factor. The
perception of the third dimension, depth or relative distance, whether in
a single object or a group of objects, is the result of the successive
combination of the different parts of two dissimilar images of the object
or group.
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