Toward a Better Approach to Goodness: Comments on Van der Helm and Leeuwenberg (1996)

Some resularities are more salient to the visual system than others. P. A. van der Helm and E. L. J. Leeuwenberg (1996) have proposed a new approach that quantifies the goodness of a pattern's regularity as the number of holographic identities constituting the regulartiy, relative to the total amount of information needed to describe the pattern. This holographic approach to goodness was compared with previous approaches and was presented in relation to metatheoretical issues. Tnese 3 aspects are discussed further here. First, the theory is shown to contain implausible assumptions and unfortunate gaps with respect to the required processing. Second, Van der Helm and Lseuwenberg's critique on preceding theories is refuted. Third, some metatheorerical issues need to be qualified or at least clarified. Together, these concerns suggest that a better approach to goodness might result from a synthesis of the most useful aspects of diverse theories of goodness.