Main description:

The book Theory and Practice of Contrast completes, corrects and integrates the foundations of science and humanities, which include: theory of art, philosophy (aesthetics, epistemology, ontology, axiology), cognitive science, theory of information, theory of complexity and physics. Through the integration of these distant disciplines, many unresolved issues in contemporary science have been clarified or better understood, among others: defining impact (contrast) and using this definition in different fields of knowledge; understanding what beauty/art is and what our aesthetic preferences depend on; deeper understanding of what complexity and information are in essence, and providing their general definitions. Complexity means integration, value and goodness - concepts that seem to be neglected today.

The book also has a high degree of integration/complexity, although each chapter introduces a new issue. The last chapter: "Binary Model of the Universe" draws attention to the need for including in physics the analysis of our mind and the resulting new possibilities, which include the mentioned (digital) model of the universe. Despite the difficult issues raised here, this study is written in accessible language and may be interesting not only for scientists and academics.

Contents:

Contents

Foreword....................................................................................................................ix

About the Author.......................................................................................................xi

Introduction............................................................................................................. xiii

Chapter 1 Beauty-Existing Views.......................................................................1

Chapter 2 The Concept's Origin............................................................................5

Chapter 3 Analysis of Contrast..............................................................................7

Chapter 4 Analyses of Contrasts in Abstract Visual Structures.......................... 11

Chapter 5 Contrast as Complexity....................................................................... 21

Chapter 6 Contrast as Compression of Information............................................ 31

Chapter 7 Contrast as Development..................................................................... 35

Chapter 8 Contrast as Value................................................................................. 37

Chapter 9 Examples of Contrasts in Artworks.................................................... 39

Chapter 10 Interpretations of Existing Aesthetic Views........................................83

Chapter 11 Contrast and Colour............................................................................97

Chapter 12 Emergence as Contrast...................................................................... 113

Chapter 13 Contrast and Subjectivity.................................................................. 119

Chapter 14 Contrast as Cognition........................................................................ 121

Chapter 15 Mind-Body Problem.......................................................................... 131

Chapter 16 Artificial Intelligence, Self-awareness and Creativity...................... 139

Chapter 17 Contrast as Being.............................................................................. 151

Chapter 18 Contrast and Perception of Reality................................................... 159

Chapter 19 Definition of Information.................................................................. 163

Chapter 20 Binary Model of Universe................................................................. 169

Chapter 21 Conclusions....................................................................................... 195

Index....................................................................................................................... 201