Two points: Be aware that the positions re empathy were explicated long ago, before any modern neurological science, cognitive science, etc. was done. Also, you still have misread Worringer. Try to remember context...c.1900. wc
--- On Thu, 7/16/09, Chris Miller <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Chris Miller <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: Worringer and his predecessors > To: [email protected] > Date: Thursday, July 16, 2009, 8:40 AM > Let's take another look at > Vernon Lee's statement (which Boris thinks is so > well put): > > "Empathy" is not just "attributing what goes on in us when > we look at a > shape to the shape itself" -- but it also includes the > "complex mental process > by > which we (all unsuspectingly) invest that inert , > bodiless shape, with the > stored up, averaged, and essential modes of our activity". > > > If the results of that "complex mental process" are with us > when we are > looking, why does it have to be considered as an addition > to "what goes on in > us"? > > And does "stored up, averaged, and essential" really apply > in every instance? > > Perhaps they work for Vernon Lee in the example that she > was using (whatever > comes to her mind with the verb "rise"), but for me, the > most memorable > association seldom could be considered average or > essential. It is often > something exceptional. (but maybe that's just me) > > So, I don't think this little passage is an example of > careful thinking. (Does > anyone here really want to read her entire book about > "The beautiful"?) > > But if we do go ahead and accept this as a definition of > empathy, couldn't it > be applied to "what goes on in us" when we are looking at > triangles, squares, > and circles --- as well as when we are looking at a statue > by Rodin ? > > And this is the point that I've been trying to make about > Worringer's polarity > between empathy and abstraction: it has nothing to do > with "empathy" as it > was defined by his predecessors. (and as many of us would > be inclined to > define it today) > > He has redefined empathy as what lovers of naturalistic art > feel when > contemplating the objects of their affection. > > > ____________________________________________________________ > NAVY for Moms > The Site for Mothers of Kids in the U.S. Navy and Potential > Recruits. > http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=b7leUPWD5T6Z80H3oHvBawAAJz6c > l_zTaptgNR5c8Mer1v9kAAUAAAAAAAAAAKKXUT4qy0-auMPgFvxJtrLHgY37AAAAAA==
