Seeing and Being Seen in the Later Medieval World: Optics, Theology, and Religious Life is a study of the medieval Christain perspective on the efficacy of accurately perceiving physical reality as a function of cognition based on only eyesight. This monograph was written by Dallas G. Denery, II and published in 2005 by Cambridge University Press. * Free PDF download
Synopsis The author, Denery, connects medieval scientific theories about optics and visual perception to everyday medieval religious practices. Denery says that understanding how people see and how they make visual mistakes helped shape the interpretation of scripture, the training of preachers, and the practice of confession. The book discusses the problem of appearance versus reality such as mirror reflections or a stick looking bent in water. Also, the two way nature of observation, which was a concern for Dominican novices. They were taught to be conscious of their self-presentation and that vision goes both ways. For example, while they are looking at their audience, the audience is attentively watching them. Other areas of coverage are truth versus appearance in confession, applying known scientific principles to religious teacher's teachings, and discussions about visual mistakes and the limits of human knowledge. The above heavily influenced medieval philosophy.
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External links
Aeon.
Further reading Akbari, Suzanne Conklin. Seeing Through the Veil: Optical Theory and Medieval Allegory. University of Toronto Press, 2004. Biernoff, Suzannah. Sight and Embodiment in the Middle Ages. Palgrave Macmillan UK, 2002. Dales, Richard C. Scientific Achievement of the Middle Ages. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1973. . Denery, Dallas G. (2015). The Devil Wins: A History of Lying from the Garden of Eden to the Enlightenment. Princeton University Press. Eberle, Patricia J. (1977) "Nature’s Discourse on Optics and the Optical Design of the Romance of the Rose." University of Toronto Quarterly, (46)3 pp.241-262.