Top-Down Perception in Proust and Aristotle
Lewis Fallis
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Perception Construct python library Character mathematics Phenomenology philosophy Epistemology Aesthetics Cognitive psychology Cognitive science |
| Key points | Argues that Proust's depiction of Swann demonstrates top-down perception and supports an Aristotelian view of perceiving and valuing, contributing to philosophy of perception debates. |
Abstract
Proust can help us understand the implications of the theory of top-down perception and can contribute to contemporary debates in the philosophy of perception by leading us back to an appreciation of an Aristotelian view of the relationship between perceiving and valuing. The character of Charles Swann—whose mind, in the grip of love, modifies the world to suit its own expectations and hopes—serves as a particularly extreme example of the creative role of memory and imagination, which, in Proust’s view, help to construct reality in accordance with opinion.