Mark Smith's Argumentative Analysis

Mark Smith argues that perspectiva is not visual perception alone, but perspectiva also entails visual cognition. Aristotle made a lasting legacy on the theory of abstraction so that universals can be observed and cognitive analyses can be used to identify and understand forms. Smith’s article is written for a more academic audience with certain previous knowledge. One must first know that perspectiva is about Platonic metaphysical discussions. Smith first outlines the theory of abstraction and how Aristotle influenced its evolvement throughout time. The second part of the article is Smith giving the physical perspective views of abstraction. The theory of abstraction and physical sight is connected to early philosophic thought processes because …show more content…
His argument has two parts to it. The first section outlines the theory of abstraction through a conceptional basis, investigating origins, and act and potency (569). He explains how Aristotle’s ideas of forms and universals was a framework for perspectiva. Aristotle needed this theory of abstraction so forms can be easily recognized when using and understanding this theory of abstraction (570). The second part of his perspectiva analysis is though the perspectivist account for the theory of abstraction and they discuss the flaws in some of Aristotle’s ideas (578). The properties of light and color are discussed to explain visual sensation and perception (579). Aristotle’s legacy about faculties made an impact on the model of the brain during medieval times. Even though it is not a correct model, this idea about the faculties or capacities helped understand the cognition by abstraction process (574). Overall, Aristotle’s theories and the physical properties of light and color are all components to support Smith’s argument that sight alone is not enough and that cognition is necessary for visual …show more content…
Socrates used this method to find characteristics of the perfect society. In Plato’s Republic, they started with the basics of what the society needed and then gradually moved to who should fulfil the different needs of the society. Eventually, Socrates and his followers led the discussion to who should rule, which is a philosopher king (Plato). They started with what is knowable and progressed until they answered the questions they thought may never be answered correctly. This logic can be connected to sight and perception. When we see something it is not enough. We have to have previous knowledge about the object or objects that are similar to it so we can have a basic knowledge about it. Pointillism was one example used in the article. You may be looking at a canvas with several dots on it, but with basic knowledge and recognition of shapes and color, you see a picture and not just a collection of dots (Smith 583). Smith argues in this article that sight is not just visual perception but