Aristotle on the Organ and Medium of Touch

Méthexis ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-121
Author(s):  
David Redmond
Keyword(s):  
Sense Organ ◽  
De Anima ◽  
The Senses ◽  
Sense Of Touch

Aristotle identifies the eye as the organ of sight, the ear as the organ of hearing, and the nose as the organ of smell. However, rather than identify the flesh as the organ of touch and that particular bit of flesh, the tongue, as the organ of taste, Aristotle makes what he admits to be the surprising claim that the organ of both touch and taste is located further inward (near the heart). The flesh is merely the medium that comes between the sense organ and their respective sense objects. Focusing on the sense of touch in particular, I consider what reasons Aristotle offers in support of this claim. After carefully wading through De Anima 2.11, I argue that the only argument that Aristotle offers there relies on an assumption about the unity of the senses that provides as much support for alternative views about the organ and medium of touch as it does for the view that Aristotle endorses.

scholarly journals A Vibrissa-Inspired Highly Flexible Tactile Sensor: Scanning 3D Object Surfaces Providing Tactile Images

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 1572
Author(s):  
Lukas Merker ◽  
Joachim Steigenberger ◽  
Rafael Marangoni ◽  
Carsten Behn
Keyword(s):  
Steel Wire ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Tactile Sensor ◽  
Tactile Sensors ◽  
Measuring Device ◽  
3D Object ◽  
Torque Transducer ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
Important Basis ◽  
Support Reactions

Just as the sense of touch complements vision in various species, several robots could benefit from advanced tactile sensors, in particular when operating under poor visibility. A prominent tactile sense organ, frequently serving as a natural paragon for developing tactile sensors, is the vibrissae of, e.g., rats. Within this study, we present a vibrissa-inspired sensor concept for 3D object scanning and reconstruction to be exemplarily used in mobile robots. The setup consists of a highly flexible rod attached to a 3D force-torque transducer (measuring device). The scanning process is realized by translationally shifting the base of the rod relative to the object. Consequently, the rod sweeps over the object’s surface, undergoing large bending deflections. Then, the support reactions at the base of the rod are evaluated for contact localization. Presenting a method of theoretically generating these support reactions, we provide an important basis for future parameter studies. During scanning, lateral slip of the rod is not actively prevented, in contrast to literature. In this way, we demonstrate the suitability of the sensor for passively dragging it on a mobile robot. Experimental scanning sweeps using an artificial vibrissa (steel wire) of length 50 mm and a glass sphere as a test object with a diameter of 60 mm verify the theoretical results and serve as a proof of concept.

The Lever, or How to Act at a Distance: A Backdrop to Theophrastus’ De sensibus

Rhizomata ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-187
Author(s):  
André Laks
Keyword(s):  
Present Article ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Sense Perception ◽  
De Anima ◽  
Extreme Caution ◽  
Alexander Of Aphrodisias ◽  
Physiological Alteration ◽  
Material Process ◽  
Theoretical Frame

AbstractIt is well known that when it comes to perception in the De anima, Aristotle uses affection-related vocabulary with extreme caution. This has given rise to a debate between interpreters who hold that in Aristotle’s account, the act of sense-perception nevertheless involves the physiological alteration of the sense organ (Richard Sorabji), and those think, with Myles Burnyeat, that for Aristotle, perception does not involve any material process, so that an Aristotelian physics of sense-perception is a “physics of forms alone”. The present article suggests that the dematerialisation of Aristotle’s theory of perception, which has a long story from Alexander of Aphrodisias to Brentano, may be in fact traced back to Theophrastus’ exegesis of Aristotle’s relevant passages in the De anima in his Physics, as we can reconstruct it on the basis of Priscian’s Metaphrasis in Theophrastum and Simplicius’ commentary of Aristotle’s De Anima. The reconstruction also provides a scholastic-theoretical frame to Theophrastus’ critical exposition of ancient theories about sense perception in his De sensibus, whether or not the discussion originally belonged to Theophrastus’ Physics.

scholarly journals De anima ii 5 on the Activation of the Senses

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-104
Author(s):  
John Bowin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
De Anima ◽  
The Senses

scholarly journals ‘The Feel of the Stones, Sounds of Cars, the Different Smells’: How Incorporating the Senses Can Help Support Equitable Health Promotion

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Andrew Barnfield
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Promotion ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Prevention Strategies ◽  
Recreational Runners ◽  
The Senses ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
The City ◽  
Health Promotion Practice

There has been limited consideration to the role of the senses in health promotion regardless of the prominence placed on corporeality in intervention and prevention strategies. Touch as a form of sense-making challenges the representational approaches that characterize health promotion methods to increase participation in physical activity. This paper explores recreational running practices through the sense of touch and is drawn from an in-depth qualitative research project with recreational runners in the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The project examined how recreational running was established and maintained within the city. This paper concludes that there is potential for health promotion to adopt a more open stance towards the study of sensual experiences of the built environment. Insights from approaches attentive to the senses hold promise for agendas and interventions in health promotion practice and intervention.

CZY PAN COGITO ROZMYŚLA O SEKSIE? CIELESNOŚĆ, PŁCIOWOŚĆ I EROTYZM W TWÓRCZOŚCI ZBIGNIEWA HERBERTA (PRELIMINARIA) / Is Mr Cogito Thinking About Sex ? Corporeality , Sexuality and Eroticism in Zbigniew Herbert’s Writings (Preliminaries)

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-77
Author(s):  
Tomasz Tomasik
Keyword(s):  
Hegemonic Masculinity ◽  
The Body ◽  
The Senses ◽  
The Mind ◽  
Literary Output ◽  
Sense Of Touch ◽  
Personal Philosophy

Summary We will not find many erotic poems in Zbigniew Herbert’s literary output, but that does not mean that the poet ignores such anthropological themes as corporeality, sexuality and eroticism. The body in the Herbert’s poetry is used as the vehicle for the senses and mediates between the spiritual and the material. The most important senses are the sense of touch and sight, so the motif of hands and eyes often occurs in this poetry. Herbert’s male protagonist distances himself from the hard hegemonic masculinity. Taking the concept of Jung into account we can say that the animus is balanced by the anima. Zbigniew Herbert’s eroticism is expressed primarily by the language of sensitivity. The attitude, in which the mind is in agreement with the feelings, eros with logos, cogito with caritas, seems to be the most compatible with the personal philosophy of the poet.

Therapy workshop: Experience of the senses

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. s869-s869
Author(s):  
E.M.B. Lira ◽  
S.C. Vasconcelos ◽  
C.S.L.D. Piagge ◽  
S.O. Luna ◽  
V. Silva Nascimento ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Dependence ◽  
Sense Organ ◽  
Interdisciplinary Approach ◽  
Sense Perception ◽  
Psychoactive Substances ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
The Senses ◽  
Competing Interest ◽  
Alcohol And Other Drugs

IntroductionThe psychoactive substances consumption modifies the users’ sense-perception.ObjectivesDiscuss the therapeutic workshop as a stimulation strategy of the sense organs.MethodologyThe activities were developed at a Center of Psycho-Social Attention for alcohol and other drugs – CPSAad, located in north-eastern Brazil. The therapeutic workshop was divided into six sessions; being worked a sense organ in each meeting. Initially, the sessions were explained and they entered the room in silence. At first, vision and lastly, taste. The taste dynamic session was initiated by the pool where users experienced different flavours and made distinctions between them, including a food without flavour, experiencing feelings of pleasure and displeasure. This dynamic was finalized in the institute's kitchen with different ice cream flavours. The participants freely served themselves, being led to reflections on their choices of pleasure. The sixth session was constituted by listening about all Therapy Workshop Experience of the Senses, on which participants reported emotions and feelings experienced during the sessions, such as: fear, anxiety, craving, denial, pleasure and displeasure.ResultsIt was identified a universe of sensations that can be translated into a sense-perception reframing about themselves and their surroundings.ConclusionThe participants presented a sensory dullness, relating the experienced stimuli to the consumption of psychoactive substances, demonstrating a strong equivalence between the proposed activity and substance dependence. This activity enabled an interdisciplinary approach, through knowledge and interventions exchange.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals A Palintropic Genealogy of the Diaphanous Exactitude of Pe(n)ser

Derrida Today ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 212-228
Author(s):  
Sean Gaston
Keyword(s):  
De Anima ◽  
Sense Of Touch

Derrida frequently comments on the need to read and reread the texts of the tradition, to be always starting again with them. In On Touching – Jean-Luc Nancy Derrida offers another reading of (he starts again with) Aristotles's De Anima. By paying attention to the play of the palintropic, diaphanous, exactitude and ‘penser’ in Derrida's text, this paper seeks to show how important Aristotle is for Derrida in this book and in any deconstruction of the sense of touch. *

scholarly journals Sensing Home; Creating a Framework for Haptic Living

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Sophie Kolmer
Keyword(s):  
Interior Design ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Design Methods ◽  
The Body ◽  
Housing Crisis ◽  
Unique Experience ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
The Senses ◽  
New Perspective ◽  
Sense Of Touch

<p><b>This thesis looks at developing a new method of designing small living spaces using the sensory body. It intends to re-imagine ways to provide a unique experience for each occupant, while offering a new perspective on how interior architectures can be designed for living in.</b></p> <p>In the context of a rising housing crisis and with a specific lack of accommodation for students and young professionals, living in smaller spaces is fast becoming a necessity. A large body of research into the design methods utilised for smaller living within city centres expose an omission of the senses for the greater part of the process.</p> <p>This research looks at a re-thinking of interior design processes where factoring the senses takes precedence over other considerations. More specifically the role of the sense of touch as the primary motivator is considered, supported by the sense of sight as its secondary factor. A series of experiments explore the ways the body interacts with surfaces, and how tactile qualities can define a space and create form. These lead to the making of a framework for design which in turn is tested through the creation of the interior of a small dwelling. This design-led research challenges the ways in which touch is used to design and reimagines ways in which small living spaces are created, with a focus on the senses.</p> <p>Key words: Interior architecture, Exploration of the senses, Touch, Tactile design methods, Design framework, Small space living</p>

Philosophies of Touch: from Aristotle to Phenomenology

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 300-316
Author(s):  
Richard Kearney
Keyword(s):  
De Anima ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
The Senses

Abstract This essay explores Aristotle’s discovery of touch as the most universal and philosophical of the senses. It analyses his central insight in the De Anima that tactile flesh is a “medium not an organ,” unpacking both its metaphysical and ethical implications. The essay concludes with a discussion of how contemporary phenomenology—from Husserl to Merleau-Ponty and Irigaray—re-describes Aristotle’s seminal intuition regarding the model of “double reversible sensation.”

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