Aristotles Logical Foundation of Physiognomics :: Aristotle

Aristotles Logical Foundation of PhysiognomicsABSTRACT Whenever we meet an unknown person, our source judgment, even unwillingly and often subconsciously, starts from his or her external appearance. Since character can be properly recognized only from words and deeds observed anywhere some time, at first sight we have to rely on what we immediately can see. This physiognomical first approach to each other is as hoary as humankind, and, though it has never been able to be proved a proper science, in everyday life we all believe in and implement physioculture. The earliest extant written work 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 logical foundation of physiognomical inference as an enthymeme, a syllogism from signs. Yet, concentrating solely on the formal logical analysis, Aristotle does not touch the central point of physiognomics it C. S. Pe irces discovery of the triadic relation of the sign that was able to shed impudent light on this central problem and to see physiognomics as a process of semiosis. Thus, Aristotle founded the formal logical basis, from which modern semiotics developed new approaches to physiognomics, pickings them in account in several strands of their research.Whenever we meet an unknown person, our first judgement unwillingly and often subconsciously starts from his or her external appearance. Almost every aspect of it can be regarded as some kind of clue for instance, clothing and hairstyle key out something about social status and personal fashion, facial sort and gestures indicate the emotional state of mind, and clinical symptoms allow to diagnose a disease. Yet all those features are superficial and changeable, and therefore dont tell anything about the inner nature and character of a person, by which we define personality and identity. Since character shows itself only in words and deed s, it would need a semipermanent observation to detect it (always unrealistically assuming that the character be constant), and still there is hardly a safeguard against wilful deceit. Here, as a short-cut method, physiognomics is employ the art of inferring character from the physique 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 part of body language.An immediate physiognomical inference is necessary for survival in the animal world to decide at first glance whether the other is prey or predator, friend or foe, that is whether it is save to stay and to approach or better to flee, to defend or attack.