Shape constancy, not size constancy: A (partial) explanation for the Müller-Lyer illusion

نویسنده

  • Bence Nanay
چکیده

The Müller-Lyer illusion is one of the best-known and most frequently examined optical illusions. After pointing out that it is unlikely that any one account would give a full explanation for all the features of this illusion, I argue for two claims. First, I aim to point out that an essential component of the Müller-Lyer illusion has something to do with picture perception (just as Gregory initially claimed). Second, I give an account of this essential component of the Müller-Lyer illusion that is not susceptible to the counterexamples and objections Gregory’s inappropriate size constancy scaling theory was susceptible to. The gist of my account is that the Müller-Lyer illusion is explained not by inappropriate size constancy scaling, but by inappropriate shape constancy scaling.

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تاریخ انتشار 2009