On 2/8/2011 6:35 AM, FERENC KOVACS wrote:
> All I am saying that when we share our mental imagery then we use 2D
> representations, whether verbal or graphic. Even when we create pictures in
> perspective (seemingly 3D) in paper or on buildings, we use a flat surface,
> including our 3D television, etc. (01)
But sculptors, architects, and children who build a snowman create
3D replicas. Artists who are good at painting on 2D surfaces with
correct perspective have to use 3d mental imagery, and many of them
are also very good sculptors. Many scientists and engineers like
Faraday and Tesla had outstanding 3D imagery. (02)
Faraday had very little formal training, but he could visualize
the electrical and magnetic fields in 3D in order to explain
the observable phenomena. Maxwell was an excellent mathematician,
and he spent long hours working with Faraday to learn how the
fields interacted before he was able to write his famous equations. (03)
> Nevertheless we always say that we examine the underlying problems, the issues
> behind the surface, etc. indicating we cannot imagine another arrangement but
> gong further ahead and knocking on the walls. (04)
In our mental imagery, we can indeed imagine going through the walls
and looking at the other side. The problem of designing electric
motors for AC current was a major challenge. Nikola Tesla was
able to solve it by combining (1) an outstanding visual imagery
comparable to Faraday's with (2) an outstanding mathematical
ability comparable to Maxwell's. (05)
Before building his AC motors, Tesla said that he would imagine
how the electromagnetic fields would change inside the motor as the
rotating parts were moving with respect to the stationary parts.
That is, of course, anecdotal evidence, but it's exactly the kind
of information that Faraday would tell Maxwell when they were
collaborating. (06)
For further discussion of the psychological and neural evidence,
I'll repeat the following reference, which I highly recommend: (07)
http://www.wjh.harvard.edu/~kwn/Kosslyn_pdfs/2007Kosslyn_chap_in_MemoryAndMindGBowerFestschrift_RememberingImages.pdf (08)
John (09)
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