The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects
Do images exist? In this paper I argue that the notion of an image is ontologically empty – i.e., images are no more than a cultural invention akin to epicycles in astronomy. There are only flat objects engaged in various causal roles. In this paper I will defend the thesis that in visual culture...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari
2021-06-01
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| Series: | JoLMA |
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| Online Access: | http://doi.org/10.30687/Jolma/2723-9640/2021/01/006 |
| _version_ | 1797464613363646464 |
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| author | Manzotti, Riccardo |
| author_facet | Manzotti, Riccardo |
| author_sort | Manzotti, Riccardo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Do images exist? In this paper I argue that the notion of an image is ontologically empty – i.e., images are no more than a cultural invention akin to epicycles in astronomy. There are only flat objects engaged in various causal roles. In this paper I will defend the thesis that in visual culture, in the neurosciences, and in philosophy of mind, there is no convincing evidence in favor of their existence. Moreover, I will outline a series of arguments aiming at showing that images do not exist. I will discuss briefly discuss why many authors – from the iconic turn to the neurosciences – use the notion of image as though it were something real. I will conclude suggesting to drop the subject-object divide and to consider a completely flat ontology made only of (relative) objects.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:09:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3fcbc367e3b4468fa5bf974d3a041407 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2723-9640 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:09:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JoLMA |
| spelling | doaj.art-3fcbc367e3b4468fa5bf974d3a0414072023-11-24T09:11:21ZengFondazione Università Ca’ FoscariJoLMA2723-96402021-06-012110.30687/Jolma/2723-9640/2021/01/006journal_article_5213The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat ObjectsManzotti, Riccardo0Università IULM, Italia Do images exist? In this paper I argue that the notion of an image is ontologically empty – i.e., images are no more than a cultural invention akin to epicycles in astronomy. There are only flat objects engaged in various causal roles. In this paper I will defend the thesis that in visual culture, in the neurosciences, and in philosophy of mind, there is no convincing evidence in favor of their existence. Moreover, I will outline a series of arguments aiming at showing that images do not exist. I will discuss briefly discuss why many authors – from the iconic turn to the neurosciences – use the notion of image as though it were something real. I will conclude suggesting to drop the subject-object divide and to consider a completely flat ontology made only of (relative) objects. http://doi.org/10.30687/Jolma/2723-9640/2021/01/006Body. Images. Mind-Object Identity. Philosophy of Mind. Pictures |
| spellingShingle | Manzotti, Riccardo The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects JoLMA Body. Images. Mind-Object Identity. Philosophy of Mind. Pictures |
| title | The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects |
| title_full | The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects |
| title_fullStr | The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects |
| title_short | The Treachery of Images: Why Images Do not Exist and There Are Only Flat Objects |
| title_sort | treachery of images why images do not exist and there are only flat objects |
| topic | Body. Images. Mind-Object Identity. Philosophy of Mind. Pictures |
| url | http://doi.org/10.30687/Jolma/2723-9640/2021/01/006 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT manzottiriccardo thetreacheryofimageswhyimagesdonotexistandthereareonlyflatobjects AT manzottiriccardo treacheryofimageswhyimagesdonotexistandthereareonlyflatobjects |