Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Pandgt;This classic work in vision science, written by a leading figure in Germany's Gestalt movement in psychology and first published in 1936, addresses topics that remain of major interest to vision researchers today. Wolfgang Metzger's main argument, drawn from Gestalt theory, is that the objects we perceive in visual experience are not the objects themselves but perceptual effigies of those objects constructed by our brain according to natural rules. Gestalt concepts are currently being increasingly integrated into mainstream neuroscience by researchers proposing network processing beyond the classical receptive field. Metzger's discussion of such topics as ambiguous figures, hidden forms, camouflage, shadows and depth, and three-dimensional representations in paintings will interest anyone working in the field of vision and perception, including psychologists, biologists, neurophysiologists, and researchers in computational vision--and artists, designers, and philosophers.Each chapter is accompanied by compelling visual demonstrations of the phenomena described; the book includes 194 illustrations, drawn from visual science, art, and everyday experience, that invite readers to verify Metzger's observations for themselves. Today's researchers may find themselves pondering the intriguing question of what effect Metzger's theories might have had on vision research if Laws of Seeing and its treasure trove of perceptual observations had been available to the English-speaking world at the time of its writing.andlt;/Pandgt;
Review
An excellent book, with a wealth of inspiring demonstrations and insights. The translators must be thanked for making it available to the English-speaking world. The MIT Press
Review
"Laws of Seeing will inspire both beginning students and serious researchers in psychophysics, neurophysiology, and computational modeling in their search for a better understanding of why we see the way we do. The text is illustrated by numerous figures demonstrating to the reader how Gestalt factors work in the laboratory and in nature. This masterpiece should be read not as history, but as a beacon for future research." John S. Werner, Section of Neurobiology, Physiology & Behavior, University of California, Davis The MIT Press
Review
The first English translation of a classic work in vision science from 1936 by a leading figure in the Gestalt movement, covering topics that continue to be major issues in vision research today.
"This is a classic work in the Gestalt tradition of visual perception, and many of the issues Metzger touched upon continue to be major themes in current research. The translation is very well done."--Pawan Sinha, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, MIT
Review
This is a timely book, notwithstanding that it was written 70 years ago. It describes many original phenomena that are currently being studied psychophysically and neurophysiologically. A masterpiece even for those who come to it without a background in the psychology of perception, Laws of Seeing stands out for its use of easily understood figures from nature and art, developmental and comparative psychology, as well as nonvisual modalities. It moves the reader toward a deeper understanding of visual perception and a new conception of the visual world. Arni Kristjánson - Perception
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"Laws of Seeing will inspire both beginning students and serious researchers in psychophysics, neurophysiology, and computational modeling in their search for a better understanding of why we see the way we do. The text is illustrated by numerous figures demonstrating to the reader how Gestalt factors work in the laboratory and in nature. This masterpiece should be read not as history, but as a beacon for future research." John S. Werner, Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and#38; Behavior, University of California, Davisandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"An excellent book, with a wealth of inspiring demonstrations and insights. The translators must be thanked for making it available to the English-speaking world." Perception Arni Kristjánsonandlt;/Pandgt; The MIT Press The MIT Press
Review
andlt;Pandgt;"This is a timely book, notwithstanding that it was written 70 years ago. It describes many original phenomena that are currently being studied psychophysically and neurophysiologically. A masterpiece even for those who come to it without a background in the psychology of perception, *Laws of Seeing* stands out for its use of easily understood figures from nature and art, developmental and comparative psychology, as well as nonvisual modalities. It moves the reader toward a deeper understanding of visual perception and a new conception of the visual world."--John S. Werner, Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California, Davisandlt;/Pandgt;
Synopsis
This classic work in vision science, written by a leading figure in Germany's Gestalt movement in psychology and first published in 1936, addresses topics that remain of major interest to vision researchers today. Wolfgang Metzger's main argument, drawn from Gestalt theory, is that the objects we perceive in visual experience are not the objects themselves but perceptual effigies of those objects constructed by our brain according to natural rules. Gestalt concepts are currently being increasingly integrated into mainstream neuroscience by researchers proposing network processing beyond the classical receptive field. Metzger's discussion of such topics as ambiguous figures, hidden forms, camouflage, shadows and depth, and three-dimensional representations in paintings will interest anyone working in the field of vision and perception, including psychologists, biologists, neurophysiologists, and researchers in computational vision -- and artists, designers, and philosophers.
Each chapter is accompanied by compelling visual demonstrations of the phenomena described; the book includes 194 illustrations, drawn from visual science, art, and everyday experience, that invite readers to verify Metzger's observations for themselves. Today's researchers may find themselves pondering the intriguing question of what effect Metzger's theories might have had on vision research if Laws of Seeing and its treasure trove of perceptual observations had been available to the English-speaking world at the time of its writing.
Synopsis
The first English translation of a classic work in vision science from 1936 by a leading figure in the Gestalt movement, covering topics that continue to be major issues in vision research today.
Synopsis
andlt;Pandgt;The first English translation of a classic work in vision science from 1936 by a leading figure in the Gestalt movement, covering topics that continue to be major issues in vision research today.andlt;/Pandgt;
About the Author
Lothar Spillmann was Professor and Researcher at the Brain Research Unit in Freiburg, Germany, before his retirement. He is the coeditor of Visual Perception: The Neurophysiological Foundations and Sensory Experience, Adaptation, and Perception.