Re: The Lunar Paradox

Lester Zick wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 16:00:35 -0500 (EST), "Wolf Kirchmeir"
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> in comp.ai.philosophy wrote:
>
>
> > On Fri, 28 Nov 2003 19:59:54 GMT, Lester Zick wrote:
> >
> >
> > > According to Glen there are NASA photos taken throughout the course of
> > > moonrise which show no apparent change in the size of the lunar disc
> >
> > > from low to high altitude. Now what this means is that Glen claims
> >
> > > that there is no illusion present, that what I see is simply not there
> > > and presumably that there is nothing to explain. In other words on the
> > > evidence Glen claims the illusion is simply not real because camera
> > > photographs do not show it.
> > >
> > > The problem I have with this explanation is that it denies the reality
> > > of the illusion in order to explain the illusion. Now I don't mind if
> > > the effect turns out to be an illusion but I do mind if the effect is
> > > not present at all - which is what Glen's arguments amount to.
> >
> > No, Glen's arguments are based on the fact that the mirage can be
> > photographed, and the moonrise illusion cannot.  The mirage is objectively
> > there - you are looking at a real image when you see it. The larger moon at
> > moonrise is not objectively there - you are exaggerating its size when you
> > see it.
>
>
> Well at least this is a reasonable approach to the problem. It might
> be an exaggerated interpretive effect.
>
> > This subjective exaggeration of size is not limited to the apparent size of
> > the moon at moon rise. The amateur photographer suffers from it too - how
> > many pictures "didn't come out right" because the snapshooter saw Aunt Maude
> > as much bigger than she really was in the picture field? Etc.
>
> You know the only problem I find with this explanation is that I don't
> seem to be able to compensate for the interpretive visual effect. It
> doesn't matter how many times I look at it or under what conditions it
> still comes out the same way.

Have you tried brain surgury?

Just what sort of "compensation" do you expect to be able to perform?
Such effects aren't under conscious control.

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<J Q B>