A Topological Mindset: the integration of Palikur object concepts, language, art, and culture
Disponibilidade:
Not Available Online
Data de Emissão:
2023
Extensão:
17 pages
Resumo:
There is more than one way to perceive the world around us. Some people identify things
by their shape and size. They categorize objects as being round or angular, long or short, big or small―
attributes that can be measured. This is a geometrical perspective. The Palikur people of Brazil share
this perspective, but they are also able to view objects and entities from an equally valid topological
perspective. Palikur patterns of thought, culture, and art indicate that the people comprehend
topological properties at a visceral level: they are deeply aware that all objects have an outside and an
inside, which make a whole that is more than the sum of its parts. Their language categorizes each
object according to its wholeness (overall integrity), boundary (overall surface), interior, extendedness
and symmetry. Such topological properties cannot be described in metric terms; instead Palikur
classifiers address boundaries and interiors in terms of being closed, partially open, or fully open. More
than a perspective, topological ideas have produced in the people a mindset that influences every part
of their lives. It is our hope that the new data in this paper will help linguists, cognitive scientists, and
educators gain a practical understanding of both topological properties and linguistic relativity.
Status da Publicação:
Draft (posted 'as is' without peer review)
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Número de Entrada:
97302