Art and Extensionism

Abstract

There is an enduring, widespread, and deeply held belief that the conscious mind is located in the brain. One of the consequences of this belief is that many researchers who seek the causes of mental phenomena do so among the neural processes in the skull. As aesthetic experience is one kind of mental phenomenon it seems natural therefore to look to the brain if we want to explain it. The recent series of books, papers, and articles from eminent neuroscientists, psychologists, vision scientists, and others that apply knowledge from science to extend our understanding of art represent just such a 'neurocentric' approach. Foremost among this work is that of Semir Zeki, who can justifiably claim to be the prime mover behind the hybrid discipline of neuroaesthetics - a bold attempt to use neuro-biological principles to account for subjective qualities in visual art, music, and taste.