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Full Idea
Gestalt psychology claims that there are at least four unlearned factors in perceptual grouping - the principles of proximity (close things), of similarity, of good continuation (extending lines in a smooth course), and closure (which completes figures).
Clarification
Gestalt psychology concerns our perception of things as unities rather than as parts
Gist of Idea
Gestalt psychology proposes inbuilt proximity, similarity, smoothness and closure principles
Source
Alvin I. Goldman (Phil Applications of Cognitive Science [1993], p.103)
Book Ref
Goldman,Alvin I.: 'Philosophical Applications of Cognitive Science' [Westview 1993], p.103
A Reaction
This offers a bridge between Hume's associationism and rationalist claims of innate ideas
| 4047 | Gestalt psychology proposes inbuilt proximity, similarity, smoothness and closure principles [Goldman] |
| 4048 | Infant brains appear to have inbuilt ontological categories [Goldman] |
| 4049 | The way in which colour experiences are evoked is physically odd and unpredictable [Goldman] |
| 4044 | Rat behaviour reveals a considerable ability to count [Goldman] |
| 4045 | Children may have three innate principles which enable them to learn to count [Goldman] |
| 4043 | Elephants can be correctly identified from as few as three primitive shapes [Goldman] |