The Gestalt Theory and the Problem of Configuration

The

Gestalt

Theory

International

Library of

and

Philosophy GENERAL EDITOR:

Psychology

Method

Scientific

C. K. OGDEN,

M.A. (Magdalene

College, Cambridge)

by G. E. MOORE, Litt.D. by KARIN STEPHEN by W. H. R. RIVERS, F.R.S. by L. WITTGENSTEIN by C. G. JUNG, M.D. SCIENTIFIC THOUGHT* by C. D. BROAD, Litt.D. THE MEANING OF MEANING by C. K. OGDEN and I. A. RICHARDS INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY by ALFRED ADLER SPECULATIONS (Preface by Jacob Epstein) by T. E. HULME THE PSYCHOLOGY OF "REASONING* EUGENIC RIGNANO by THE PHILOSOPHY OF As IF " by H. VAIHINGER THE NATURE OF INTELLIGENCE by L. L. THURSTONE TELEPATHY AND CLAIRVOYANCE by R. TISCHNER THE GROWTH OF THE MIND by K. KOFFKA THE MENTALITY OF APES by W. K6HLER PSYCHOLOGY OF RELIGIOUS MYSTICISM by J. H. LEUBA THE PHILOSOPHY OF Music by W. POLE, F.R.S. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF A MUSICAL PRODIGY by G. REVESZ PRINCIPLES OF LITERARY CRITICISM by I. A. RICHARDS METAPHYSICAL FOUNDATIONS OF SCIENCE by E. A. BURTT, Ph.D. THOUGHT AND THE BRAIN* by H. PIERON PHYSIQUE AND CHARACTER* by ERNST KRETSCHMER PSYCHOLOGY OF EMOTION by J. T. MACCURDY, M.D. PROBLEMS OF PERSONALITY in honour of MORTON PRINCE THE HISTORY OF MATERIALISM by F. A. LANGE PERSONALITY* by R. G. GORDON, M.D. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY by CHARLES Fox LANGUAGE AND THOUGHT OF THE CHILD by J. PIAGET SEX AND REPRESSION IN SAVAGE SOCIETY* by B. MALINOWSKI, D.Sc. COMPARATIVE PHILOSOPHY by P. MASSON-OURSEL SOCIAL LIFE IN THE ANIMAL WORLD by F. ALVERDES How ANIMALS FIND THEIR WAY ABOUT by E. RABAUD THE SOCIAL INSECTS by W. MORTON WHEELER THEORETICAL BIOLOGY by J. VON UEXKULL POSSIBILITY by SCOTT BUCHANAN THE TECHNIQUE OF CONTROVERSY by B. B. BOGOSLOVSKY THE SYMBOLIC PROCESS by J. F. MARKEY POLITICAL PLURALISM by K. C. HSIAO HISTORY OF CHINESE POLITICAL THOUGHT by LIANG CHI-CHAO INTEGRATIVE PSYCHOLOGY* by W. M. MARSTON THE ANALYSIS OF MATTER by BERTRAND RUSSELL, F.R.S. PLATO'S THEORY OF ETHICS by R. C. LODGE HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION TO MODERN PSYCHOLOGY by G. MURPHY CREATIVE IMAGINATION by JUNE E. DOWNEY COLOUR AND COLOUR THEORIES by CHRISTINE LADD-FRANKLIN BIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES by J. H. WOODGER THE TRAUMA OF BIRTH by OTTO RANK THE STATISTICAL METHOD IN ECONOMICS by P. S. FLORENCE THE ART OF INTERROGATION by E. R. HAMILTON THE GROWTH OF REASON by FRANK LORIMER HUMAN SPEECH by Sir RICHARD PAGET FOUNDATIONS OF GEOMETRY AND INDUCTION by JEAN NICOD THE LAWS OF FEELING by F. PAULHAN THE MENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD by K. BUHLER EIDETIC IMAGERY by E. R. JAENSCH THE CONCENTRIC METHOD by M. LAIGNEL-LAVASTINE THE FOUNDATIONS OF MATHEMATICS by F. P. RAMSEY THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE UNCONSCIOUS by E. VON HARTMANN OUTLINES OF GREEK PHILOSOPHY by E. ZELLER THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS by HELGA ENG M. MONTMASSON INVENTION OF THE UNCONSCIOUS by J. THE THEORY OF LEGISLATION by JEREMY BENTHAM ZUCKERMAN S. THE SOCIAL LIFE OF MONKEYS by THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SEXUAL IMPULSES by R. E. MONEY-KYRLE CONSTITUTION TYPES IN DELINQUENCY by W. A. WILLEMSE. THE SCIENCES OF MAN IN THE MAKING by E. A. KIRKPAIRICK ETHICAL RELATIVITY by E. A. WESTERMARCK THE GESTALT THEORY by BRUNO PETERMANN THE PSYCHOLOGY OF CONSCIOUSNESS by C. DALY KING THE SPIRIT OF LANGUAGE by K. VOSSLER

PHILOSOPHICAL STUDIES THE MISUSE OF MIND CONFLICT AND DREAM* TRACTATUS LOGICO-PHILOSOPHICUS PSYCHOLOGICAL TYPES*

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* Asterisks denote that other books by the same author are included in the Series. complete list will be found at the end of the volume.

A

The

Gestalt

Theory and

the

Problem of Configuration

BY

BRUNO PETERMANN UNIVERSITY OF KIEL

LONDON

KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & BROADWAY HOUSE, CARTER 1932

LANE,

CO., E.G.

LTD.

Translated

by

MEYER FORTES

PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY STEPHEN AUSTIN AND SONS, LTD., HERTFORD

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION PAGE

THE PROBLEM OF CONFIGURATION AND THE GESTALT THEORY Contemporary psychology and Purpose of

the

problem

...... the

of configuration. investigation

present i

%

BOOK ONE THE CONCEPTUAL CONSTITUTION OF THE GESTALT THEORY, DEVELOPED IN ITS GENETIC CONTINUITY

....

7

CHAPTER I. THE THEORY OF THE ^-PROCESS SIMPLY A PRELIMINARY STEP TO THE ACTUAL .10 GESTALT THEORY .

2.

3.

.

.

The seeing of movement : The thesis of the sensation-equivalence of the seeing of movement, and the theory of the directed (fa-process The seeing of" the seeing of

simultaneous 4.

.

The

gestalt ".

Its derivation

movement, and (fa-process

.

11

from

the theory of the .

.

.14

principles inherent in Wertheimer's contentions of 1912, and the actual gestalt theory

.......

16

CHAPTER II. THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE ORIENTATION IN THE PROBLEM, WHICH is CHARACTERISTIC OF " " GESTALT THEORY .20 THE ACTUAL .

i.

The proposal to transform the standpoint psychological thinking in its principles

of

The first critical considerations opposing " old" psychology : Kohler, 1913

the

.

5.

.

.

6.

.20 .

21

The achievement of an

anti-synthetic standpoint as positive manifestation of a trans. formation of principles .

.

-25

CONTENTS

vi

2.

The

.......

"

thinking 7.

8.

of

delineation

first

"

actual

PAGE

gestalt

....

The establishment of the specific significance of the gestalt concept

29

29

The

extension of the "gestalt way of " to the different special provinces thinking of psychology

32

CHAPTER III. THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE ACTUAL SYSTEM OF THE GESTALT THEORY -34 .

.

The psychophysical-deductive founding of the by Kohler

1.

principles of the gestalt doctrine 9.

Kohler's

"

"

Kohler's

to

35

....

39

constructional

.

solution

the

of

Kdhler's logical incorporation of all problems of wholeness in his physical-physiological gestalt doctrine

2. x

35,

extension of the physical domains

psychophysical problem 11.

.

epistemological

gestalt thinking

10.

basic

.

41

The psychological refinement of the gestalt concept into a principle founding a positive system

44

.....

44

.

.

12.

The primacy of psychical events

13.

The notion of

whole over the part in

the

conformance to laws of the gestalt, as formal presupposition for the tenets conceptual of a specific gestalt " " the

47

theory 14.

The notion of material

"

"

as gestalt disposition presupposition for the empirical

feasibility of

the

a

"

specific gestalt

"

theory

.

THE ARCHITECTONICS OF THE FINAL BODY OF DOCTRINE OF THE GESTALT THEORY

51

CHAPTER IV.

.

15.

The

extent of the gestalt theory's systematic

field in general 1 6.

56

....

The principles of construction of of gestalt psychology

17.

56

The organization of system in

its

the

system

56

the gestalt-psychological

integrality

57

CONTENTS

vii

BOOK TWO PAGB

TOWARDS A THEORY

THE GESTALT

CRITICISM OF

59

PART ONE TOWARDS AN APPRAISEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTIONAL FOUNDATION OF THE GESTALT THEORY

62

CHAPTER I. KOHLER'S EVIDENCE TO DEMONSTRATE A GESTALT-THEORETICAL PROVINCE IN THE SYSTEM OF PHYSICS .62 .

1.

.

"........ ......

Kohler's factor

.

.

1 8.

"

demonstration of a

first

physical gestalt

63

Kohler's line of argument in proof of the character of systems of electrolytic

gestalt

19. 2.

solutions

63

Becher's version of Kohler's line of argument

66

Kohler's doctrine of the gestalt character of " tribution systems .

20.

21.

.

" .

dis-

.68

...

68

distribution system which its entirety .

71

detailed analysis of Kdhler's arguments for the gestalt character of distribution systems

78

can be envisaged in

3

.

The distribution systems of physics and Kohler's interpretation of them A direct testing of Kohler's contention by

means of a model 22.

.

Critical

.

....

Conclusions towards a characterization of the physics of distribution systems from the point of view of scientific

84

theory

The

distribution systems according to their intrinsic their categorical import and

......

84

KOHLER'S PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION OF PHENOMENAL GESTALTEN IN ITS ORIGINAL PRESENTATION

87

23.

specificity

CHAPTER

II.

......

CONTENTS

viii 1.

....

Kohler's methodological programme for resolving the psycbophysical problem 24.

and

Purpose physiology

2.

procedures

.

.

.

of

88

Kohler's

.

.88

.

The general statements towards a formal definition the psychophysical happening. The core of

.....

of

Kohler's line of thought 25.

The construction of Kohler's

26.

Kohler's line of argument in the light of the critical conclusions in connection with our

line of thought

characterization of distribution systems 3.

PAGE

.

Kohler's concrete detailed propositions in respect " " of the neurophysical to the material nature " " conditioning topography processes and their The basic material definitions of the psycho27. physical processes, as formulated by Kohler in their theoretical scope .

89 89

94

97

f

.

28.

The supplementary the

levels,

of

and

logical admissibility

4

.

.97

.

definitions necessary for

comprehension

physical

.

the

neuro-

higher

their empirical physio.

.

101

.

Concluding assessment of Kohler's gestalt physiology The limits of Kohler's electro-physiological 29. theory

.......

1 05

105

CHAPTER III. THE PROBLEM OF GESTALT PHYSIOLOGY IN KOHLER'S GESTALT PSYCHOLOGY OF 1929, AND ITS APPRAISEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF A RECENT FUNDAMENTAL EXPERIMENT IN BIOLOGY 107 1.

Gestalt physiology according to Kohler's recent Its premisses and principles .108 The general position of gestalt physiology in 30. 108 Kohler's Gestalt Psychology of 1929

exposition.

.

.

31. 32.

2.

physiology of 1929, and the principle of psychological isomorphism The gestalt physiology of 1929, and the principle of dynamical self-distribution

The

gestalt

.

109

.

113

Kohler 's gestalt physiology in the light of Weiss' experiments on centro-peripheral co-ordination in the nervous happening .124 The general results of Weiss' experiments 33. 125 .

.

.

.

.

34.

Weiss' experiments evaluated in terms of principles, with reference to the uniformity of the centro-peripheral co-ordinations in the nervous happening .130

35.

Kdhler's contentions, in the light of Weiss'

.

results

.

.

.......

134

CONTENTS

ix

PART TWO PAGE

TOWARDS

AN APPRAISEMENT OF THE CONCRETE EMPIRICAL FOUNDATION OF

THE GESTALT THEORY SECTION ONE.

138

ON THE STATICS OF GESTALTEN

.

139

CHAPTER I. FIGURAL STRUCTURES AS THE FUNDAMENTAL PHENOMENON OF THE GESTALT THEORY 139 1.

The phenomenon of figural structure in its gestalttheoretical application The phenomenal basis of the problem of 36. figural structure 37.

38.

.

.

.

.

.139

.

.

.

.

139

The phenomenon of closure in homogeneous areas of the field and the problem of mosaic The conditions for the building-up of the figural unity, according to Wertheimer, and the concept of figural structure

2.

147

The gestalt-theoretical interpretation of the figural phenomena in the light of a comprehensive analysis of facts

........

and my The Wertheimer gestalt factors .155 findings on spatial collocations The fundamental dependence of the gestalt phenomena upon the mode of apprehension, .

.

40.

as the 41.

155

"

"

39.

main

difficulty of the gestalt theory

.

159

The position of to

the

the gestalt theory in regard inversion phenomena, and to the

dependency

the

upon

structures in general 3.

.

.

.

142

subject .

of figural

.

.

.162

Kohler's attempt at a positive constructional theory " " of the character .169 figure .

42. 43.

.

.

.

.169

Kohler's physiological proposals The scientific import of Kohler's proposals .

170

CHAPTER II. THE FIGURAL STRUCTURES AND THEIR FUNCTIONAL EFFECTS PROPER TO THE STRUCTURE 172 i.

as evidence Simplest colour phenomena " " functional unitariness of gestalten 44. 45.

Gestalt context

.

contrast

.

the

.172 .172

Colour assimilation under the influence of gestalten

46.

and colour

of

.

.

.

.

.

.

Figural structure and colour thresholds

.176 .

180

CONTENTS

x

PAGE 2.

The phenomena

of gestalt displacement

.

.185

Fucks' findings and their gestalt-theoretical

47.

interpretation

.

.

The inability of Fuchs'

48.

.

.

interpretation

.186 189

.

THE GENERAL CONCEPT OF THE CHAPTER III. " " COLOUR AND TONE GESTALTEN 201 STRUCTURE :

1.

The extension

of the gestalt concept beyond the .201 province of figural structures " The mutual relatedness " of qualities as a 49. .

.

.202 phenomenally ultimate datum The functional import of Kohler's concept of " mutual t'elatedness ", and the structure .

50.

.

.209

of the selective reaction The structure process in Kohler's physiology .

51. 2.

.

.

.

215

to the gestalt findings in regard Specific empirical " " mutual relatedness . theory of .

Structure

52.

53.

TWO. GESTALTEN

SECTION

.221

phenomena in

optical perception. Koffka's conception of boundary contrast " Mutual relatedness " in tones : The .

221

apprehension of melody and harmony

.

226

THE NOTION OF A DYNAMICS OF 23!

CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF GESTALT DYNAMICS IN THE REALM OF THE PERCEPTUAL GESTALTEN 232 1.

Kohler's dogmatic founding of gestalt dynamics

and

its

conformance to law

54.

55.

.

.

.

*

-233 233

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

-235

Indirect empirical substantiation of the idea of gestalt dynamics from the end results of the

dynamic processes sought 56. 57.

for

.

.

.

.

239

Fuchs' explanation of the phenomena of " " .239 gestalt completion The mechanism of gestalt transformation according to Wulff .246 .

3.

.

Kohler's deduction of a fundamental gestalt