Hi Jerry, Keith and Colleagues
Having not read it then, I apologize for popping off my first response to the views put forth by Alva Noe’s opinionator article in Stone. But, after reading it I have the same reaction. I don’t think he has a lucid argument against what can be learned from neuroscience, or better, neuroscientist with an interest in art such as those I mentioned in my last post to the PhD list. His argument for rejecting neuroscientific knowledge seems specious. In his words, “neuroscience has yet to frame an adequate conception of our nature. You look in vain for in the writings of neuroscientists for satisfying accounts of experience or consciousness.” I think you could say the same of art, unless the meaning of “satisfying accounts of experience or consciousness", or “an adequate conception of our nature” regarding art is defined. In arguing that "art doesn’t have to work to be good” he fails to address what is good or meaningful about art as a perceptual experience, saying that "art isn’t a phenomenon to be explained. Not by neuroscience, and not by philosophy. Art is itself a research practice, a way of investigating the world and ourselves.” This seems self contradictory. Doesn’t one investigate to enrich their understanding and experience of being human. This includes the ability to notice the larger than usual hand in Leonardo’s painting, to make discriminations, within the experience. I want to understand how the experience of art occurs, both when it is made and when it is experienced. "A designer of doorknobs makes a simple artifact but he or she does so with an eye to its mesh with this larger cognitive and anthropological framework." Just as the doorknob "disappears from view and gets absorbed in application” it reappears when attention is focused on it to make a point and help others understand. I do accept Noe’s view that as artists and designers we have something to say to neuroscientists, biologists, anthropologists, writers and all those who also design the objects of their thoughts. Conversely we have a great deal to learn from them that could enrich and enhance making and the expression of needs and desires for ourselves and others. We too often drop back to something that makes us comfortable without realizing what there is to learn from those who seem “alien”. A word I can’t associate with art as Noe does.
Or, so I believe
Chuck
Charles Burnette
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