nPostednon June 13, 2016
n
n
n
n
n
nAccordingnto Leon Chwistek, there are four kinds of reality:
n
n
n
n
n
nFirst,nthere is popular reality…also known as common sense. The sun comesnup in the east and sets in the west – everyone knows that!
n
n
n
n
n
n
Secondnis physical reality…this is what we know from physics. For example,nthe Earth’s rotation on its axis makes it seem as if the sun “comesnup” and “goes down”…but the reality is that our planet isnspinning around as it moves around the Sun.
Secondnis physical reality…this is what we know from physics. For example,nthe Earth’s rotation on its axis makes it seem as if the sun “comesnup” and “goes down”…but the reality is that our planet isnspinning around as it moves around the Sun.n
n
n
n
n
n
Third,nwe have phenomenal reality…this is the impressions we get from ournsenses. For example, the nighttime sky gets steadily lighter, andnthere is a brightness in the sky on one particular spot on theneastern horizon. Clouds are rimmed with gold, and everything seems tonbe hushed in expectation. And then, suddenly, the sun flashes intonthe sky, quickly climbing onto and then above the horizon. And thenbirds begin to sing.
Third,nwe have phenomenal reality…this is the impressions we get from ournsenses. For example, the nighttime sky gets steadily lighter, andnthere is a brightness in the sky on one particular spot on theneastern horizon. Clouds are rimmed with gold, and everything seems tonbe hushed in expectation. And then, suddenly, the sun flashes intonthe sky, quickly climbing onto and then above the horizon. And thenbirds begin to sing.n
n
n
n
n
nFourth,nand last, there is visionary reality…this is what we think we knownfrom dreams, religious revelation, hallucinations. For example, youncould dream that each day there was a brand new sun, rising drippingngold from waters surrounding the world, and plunging to its death atnnight.
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nDidnChwistek think that all of these kinds of reality werenequally…real? Probably not. This Polish man, born on this date inn1884, was a university professor of logic, and he explored thenphilosophy of science as well as mathematics.
n
n
n
nBut he was also annavant-garde painter and a critic of literature and art.
n
n
n
nAnd his fourntypes of reality mapped onto four types of painting:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n1-nPrimitivism
n
n
 |
n
n
n
n
| Henri Rousseau, nIn a Tropical Forest Combat of a Tiger and a Buffalo |
n
n
n
n
n
n2-nRealism
n
n
n
 |
| Jules Breton, The Song of the Lark |
n
n
n
n
n
n3-nImpressionism
n
 |
| Berthe Morisot, The Cradle |
n
n
n
n
n
n4-nFuturism
n
 |
| Umberto Boccioni, Elasticity |
n
n
n
nInnother aspects of his all his various sorts of work, Chwistek defendedncommon sense and physical reality over the claims of metaphysics andnreligions. To point out that people use the word “real” andn“reality” in these various ways doesn’t mean that all of thesenthings ARE real!
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nHerenare a few of my favorite Chwistek pieces:
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
 |
| Boat |
n
 |
| City Factory |
n
 |
| City |
n
 |
| Fencing |
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nIt’s unusual to have a mathematician / logician / philosophernwho is also a painter / art theorist!
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAlsonon this date:
n
n
n
n
Anniversary of the founding of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Anniversary of the founding of Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAnniversarynof King Ludwig’s mysterious death
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nBirthdaysnof environmental artists Jeanne-Claude and Christo
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nSamurainMiyamoto Musashi’s birthday
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nPlannahead:
n
n
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
Checknout my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
nJunen holidays
n
n
n
- n
-
nJunen birthdays
n
n
n
- n
-
nHistoricaln anniversaries in June
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
nAndnhere are my Pinterest boards for:
n
- n
-
nJulyn holidays
n
-
nJulyn birthdays
n
-
nHistoricaln anniversaries in July
n
n
n
n
n
n