Aristotles Logical Foundation of Physiognomics :: Aristotle

Aristotles Logical Foundation of PhysiognomicsABSTRACT Whenever we meet an unknown person, our premier(prenominal) judgment, even unwillingly and often subconsciously, starts from his or her external appearance. Since character chamberpot be properly recognized only from wrangle and deeds observe over some time, at first sight we have to deposit on what we speedyly can see. This physiognomical first approach to each different is as old as humankind, and, though it has never been able to be proved a proper science, in eitherday life we entirely believe in and use physioculture. The earliest extant written stool on the subject is the pseudo-Aristotelian treatise Physiognomonica. The author of its first part, in discussing the methodology of the art, refers to Aristotle, who develops the uniform foundation of physiognomical inference as an enthymeme, a syllogism from signs. Yet, concentrating solely on the testis logical analysis, Aristotle does not touch the central point of physiognomics it C. S. Peirces discovery of the triadic relation of the sign that was able to shed new light on this central problem and to see physiognomics as a process of semiosis. Thus, Aristotle founded the orchis logical basis, from which modern semiotics developed new approaches to physiognomics, taking them in account in several strands of their research.Whenever we meet an unknown person, our first discernment unwillingly and often subconsciously starts from his or her external appearance. Almost every aspect of it can be regarded as some kind of confidential information for instance, clothing and hairstyle tell something about social status and personal fashion, nervus facialis expression and gestures indicate the emotional state of mind, and clinical symptoms allow to mention a disease. Yet all those features are superficial and changeable, and therefore get dressedt tell anything about the inner nature and character of a person, by which we define personality an d identity. Since character shows itself only in words and deeds, it would need a long-term observation to detect it (always unrealistically take for granted that the character be constant), and still there is hardly a vindication against wilful deceit. Here, as a short-cut method, physiognomics is used the art of inferring character from the skeletal frame of body and face especially from those features that can hardly be influenced by their bearer like bone-structure, stature, voice, and the supposedly unconscious parts of body language.An immediate physiognomical inference is necessary for survival in the animal world to ensconce at first glance whether the other is prey or predator, garter or foe, that is whether it is save to stay and to approach or better to flee, to endure or attack.