Brief presentation for the public event "#Explorer4anight: Auf den Spuren alter Kulturen" within ... more Brief presentation for the public event "#Explorer4anight: Auf den Spuren alter Kulturen" within the "Kleine Fächer Wochen" of JGU Mainz
Die Betrachtung, Analyse und Interpretation von Bildern unterschiedlichster Art ist ein fester Be... more Die Betrachtung, Analyse und Interpretation von Bildern unterschiedlichster Art ist ein fester Bestandteil archäologischen Arbeitens. Zahlreiche Studien beschäftigen sich mit der Deutung und Entwicklung bestimmter Motive oder Szenen, mit den spezifischen Darstellungskonventionen in verschiedenen Perioden oder auch mit stilistischen Merkmalen. Für die Bildwissenschaften können die Archäologien insofern eine wertvolle Ressource darstellen, als dass sie auf viele tausend Jahre Kunstschaffen und somit ein reiches Repertoire an Bildwerken mit unterschiedlichem kulturellem Hintergrund zurückgreifen können. Archäologen ist es somit möglich, Bildphänomene zu identifizieren, ihre Entwicklung und Tradierung nachzuverfolgen und sie zu kontextualisieren.
Verbindendes Element über geographische und chronologische „Grenzen“ hinweg ist hierbei der Mensch (Homo sapiens), der jeweils die gleichen kognitiven Grundvoraussetzungen besitzt. Folglich ist es lohnenswert, archäologische Bildwerke aus dem Blickwinkel der Kognitionswissenschaft(en) zu betrachten. Während die Anwendung von Methoden aus anderen Disziplinen wie Ikonographie und Semiotik im Bereich der Archäologie schon lange selbstverständlich ist, werden kognitionswissenschaftliche Ansätze bisher jedoch weitgehend vernachlässigt. In Anbetracht der engen Verbindung zwischen Kognitions- und Bildwissenschaften erscheint dies verwunderlich, da Wahrnehmung, Verarbeitung und Herstellung von Bildern auf kognitiven Prozessen beruhen.
Im Vortrag möchten wir anhand konkreter Fallbeispiele aus den Bereichen der Ägyptologie und der Vorderasiatischen Archäologie aufzeigen, wie insbesondere die Kombination von Archäologie und Kognitionswissenschaften für die Entwicklung einer Allgemeinen Bildwissenschaft fruchtbar gemacht werden kann. Besonders gut fassbar ist diese Verbindung in der Untersuchung von Darstellungen von Mischwesen, die von den Anfängen figurativer Kunst bis heute in den meisten Kulturen vorkommen. Diese Bilder können nicht direkt von visuell wahrnehmbaren Objekten in der realen Welt abgeleitet werden. Vielmehr entstehen sie im menschlichen Geist durch die Fähigkeit der kreativen Imagination, bevor sie als Darstellungen in die materielle Welt transferiert werden. Unabhängig von Zeitstellung und kulturellem Umfeld lässt sich nachvollziehen, welche kognitiven Prozesse dabei zugrunde liegen.
Angesicht trauriger Nachrichten über die Plünderung und Zerstörung von Museen und archäologischen... more Angesicht trauriger Nachrichten über die Plünderung und Zerstörung von Museen und archäologischen Stätten in Kriegsgebieten ist der Kulturgüterschutz einmal mehr zu einem öffentlich stark diskutierten Thema geworden. Im Alltag von ArchäologInnen spielt Kulturgüterschutz zwangsläufig eine tragende Rolle, denn archäologische Arbeit, gleich, ob am Schreibtisch, im Museum oder auf der Ausgrabung, steht immer im Spannungsfeld zwischen Dokumentation, Erhaltung und Zerstörung. Anhand konkreter Beispiele aus dem "Archäologenalltag" wird dies verdeutlicht.
Talk at the Ständige Ägyptologen Konferenz Trier 2015, University Trier. First presentation of th... more Talk at the Ständige Ägyptologen Konferenz Trier 2015, University Trier. First presentation of the Siegeldreher-Project, a semi-automatic method for the 3D-documentation of cylinder seals using Structure from Motion and results from the 3D-aquisition of Egyptian Early Dynastic cylinder seals in the Petrie Museum, London, and British Museum, London.
Talk at the ArchaeoBioCenter at LMU Munich on the "Seal rotation device" for semi-automatic docum... more Talk at the ArchaeoBioCenter at LMU Munich on the "Seal rotation device" for semi-automatic documentation of cylindric seals in 3D using Structure-from-Motion and a rotation device.
Brief presentation for the public event "#Explorer4anight: Auf den Spuren alter Kulturen" within ... more Brief presentation for the public event "#Explorer4anight: Auf den Spuren alter Kulturen" within the "Kleine Fächer Wochen" of JGU Mainz
Die Betrachtung, Analyse und Interpretation von Bildern unterschiedlichster Art ist ein fester Be... more Die Betrachtung, Analyse und Interpretation von Bildern unterschiedlichster Art ist ein fester Bestandteil archäologischen Arbeitens. Zahlreiche Studien beschäftigen sich mit der Deutung und Entwicklung bestimmter Motive oder Szenen, mit den spezifischen Darstellungskonventionen in verschiedenen Perioden oder auch mit stilistischen Merkmalen. Für die Bildwissenschaften können die Archäologien insofern eine wertvolle Ressource darstellen, als dass sie auf viele tausend Jahre Kunstschaffen und somit ein reiches Repertoire an Bildwerken mit unterschiedlichem kulturellem Hintergrund zurückgreifen können. Archäologen ist es somit möglich, Bildphänomene zu identifizieren, ihre Entwicklung und Tradierung nachzuverfolgen und sie zu kontextualisieren.
Verbindendes Element über geographische und chronologische „Grenzen“ hinweg ist hierbei der Mensch (Homo sapiens), der jeweils die gleichen kognitiven Grundvoraussetzungen besitzt. Folglich ist es lohnenswert, archäologische Bildwerke aus dem Blickwinkel der Kognitionswissenschaft(en) zu betrachten. Während die Anwendung von Methoden aus anderen Disziplinen wie Ikonographie und Semiotik im Bereich der Archäologie schon lange selbstverständlich ist, werden kognitionswissenschaftliche Ansätze bisher jedoch weitgehend vernachlässigt. In Anbetracht der engen Verbindung zwischen Kognitions- und Bildwissenschaften erscheint dies verwunderlich, da Wahrnehmung, Verarbeitung und Herstellung von Bildern auf kognitiven Prozessen beruhen.
Im Vortrag möchten wir anhand konkreter Fallbeispiele aus den Bereichen der Ägyptologie und der Vorderasiatischen Archäologie aufzeigen, wie insbesondere die Kombination von Archäologie und Kognitionswissenschaften für die Entwicklung einer Allgemeinen Bildwissenschaft fruchtbar gemacht werden kann. Besonders gut fassbar ist diese Verbindung in der Untersuchung von Darstellungen von Mischwesen, die von den Anfängen figurativer Kunst bis heute in den meisten Kulturen vorkommen. Diese Bilder können nicht direkt von visuell wahrnehmbaren Objekten in der realen Welt abgeleitet werden. Vielmehr entstehen sie im menschlichen Geist durch die Fähigkeit der kreativen Imagination, bevor sie als Darstellungen in die materielle Welt transferiert werden. Unabhängig von Zeitstellung und kulturellem Umfeld lässt sich nachvollziehen, welche kognitiven Prozesse dabei zugrunde liegen.
Angesicht trauriger Nachrichten über die Plünderung und Zerstörung von Museen und archäologischen... more Angesicht trauriger Nachrichten über die Plünderung und Zerstörung von Museen und archäologischen Stätten in Kriegsgebieten ist der Kulturgüterschutz einmal mehr zu einem öffentlich stark diskutierten Thema geworden. Im Alltag von ArchäologInnen spielt Kulturgüterschutz zwangsläufig eine tragende Rolle, denn archäologische Arbeit, gleich, ob am Schreibtisch, im Museum oder auf der Ausgrabung, steht immer im Spannungsfeld zwischen Dokumentation, Erhaltung und Zerstörung. Anhand konkreter Beispiele aus dem "Archäologenalltag" wird dies verdeutlicht.
Talk at the Ständige Ägyptologen Konferenz Trier 2015, University Trier. First presentation of th... more Talk at the Ständige Ägyptologen Konferenz Trier 2015, University Trier. First presentation of the Siegeldreher-Project, a semi-automatic method for the 3D-documentation of cylinder seals using Structure from Motion and results from the 3D-aquisition of Egyptian Early Dynastic cylinder seals in the Petrie Museum, London, and British Museum, London.
Talk at the ArchaeoBioCenter at LMU Munich on the "Seal rotation device" for semi-automatic docum... more Talk at the ArchaeoBioCenter at LMU Munich on the "Seal rotation device" for semi-automatic documentation of cylindric seals in 3D using Structure-from-Motion and a rotation device.
Throughout Ancient Egyptian history the offering scene is the most important motif of the private... more Throughout Ancient Egyptian history the offering scene is the most important motif of the private funerary iconography. Exclusively associated with tomb chapels it marks the place, where the funerary cult was performed. Already in Early Dynastic times the offering scene probably possessed this function, when it occurred on relief slabs of the Helwan and Saqqara necropoleis. In Early Dynastic times it also appeared in a very different media – as part of glyptic inscriptions with personal names on cylinder seals.
The interpretation of the miniature offering scene is today strongly influenced by two mid-20th century studies: von Bissing interpreted the cylinder seals as forerunners of the Early Dynastic relief slabs, which were placed inside the tomb chamber, while Kaplony saw them as seals of the deceased, especially made for burial and enhanced with a fitting title – the offering scene. Both hypotheses place the seals in the sphere of the tomb chamber. In this respect Reisners discovery of five specimen in tombs of the elite cemetery 1500 in Naga ed-Deir was most influential.
However, the revision of archaeological contexts, material and seal inscriptions indicates another interpretation: Out of 154 cylinder seals only 15 were scientifically excavated or found in surveys. The majority was actually discovered in tombs all over Egypt, but four cylinders derive from settlement areas. Furthermore there are five fragments of clay sealings, which show the sign of the offering scene. All sealings clearly belong to none-private economic contexts. Also they were neither known to von Bissing nor to Kaplony.
Still the evidence for the economic use of cylinder seals with offering scenes is very small in quantity. Therefore a representative group of 19 seals from the British Museum and Petrie Museum was studied to identify possible traces of wear from sealing clay stoppers frequently. In fact all examined specimen showed different levels of wear. Moreover characteristic traces of wear from rolling over wet clay and wearing on a thread around the neck could be distinguished. They can also be identified on photographs of cylinder seals and detailed drawings of seal inscriptions. This is another strong argument in favor of interpreting those seals as commodities in constant use for economic activities.
Comparisons of their inscription with Early Dynastic cylinder seals with personal names, which were used in local administration, showed that they are very similar and probably had the same functions. In this case there are two options relating to the meaning of the offering scene: First the offering scene in seal inscriptions has no connection to the funerary cult at all, which is unlikely regarding the contemporary use of the offering scene on relief slabs. Second the offering scene denotes the possessor of the seal as a function owner in some way related to the funerary cult – for example a member of a “funerary estate” as Köhler suggested.
The Ancient Egyptian way of representing the human body is often experienced as being distinct an... more The Ancient Egyptian way of representing the human body is often experienced as being distinct and very exact in following the principles of Egyptian art. Based on the hypothesis, that anthropomorphic sculptures are direct self-expressions of humans about their self-perception, self-concept and their image of their community, it can be assumed that they contain different aspects of the ideas about the human body. Thanks to the abundance of related finds and written records from the pharaonic period, many aspects of meaning and function of anthropomorphic sculpture are well explored. However, it is barely known how and why Egyptian anthropomorphic sculpture achieved its particular traits such as the typical proportions and the focus on certain body parts, e.g. the eye, as well as how the underlying body concepts evolved. This paper, which is based on my PhD-project within the research training group “Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: universal, specific, interchanged” (DFG-GRK 1876), aims to answer these questions by looking at the period of origin of the principles of Egyptian art. The material analyzed in this regard is the Pre- and Early Dynastic anthropomorphic sculpture as a whole. The methodology to recover the underlying ideas about the human body combines traditional approaches from Archaeology and image studies with results from cognitive science.
Usually, studies on anthropomorphic figurines focus on two research questions: “What is their fun... more Usually, studies on anthropomorphic figurines focus on two research questions: “What is their function?” and “Whom or what are they representing?” As no distinct practical use can be assigned to them, they are generally interpreted as belonging to religious, funerary or domestic cults. Problematic archaeological contexts in which figurines occur constitute a considerable obstacle to answering these questions, which is often further complicated by the absence of information from textual sources.
Nevertheless, anthropomorphic figurines contain even more information that is frequently overlooked: the knowledge and ideas about the human body. Anthropomorphic figurines are artefacts of human thought like all forms of artistic expression. Based on that, anthropomorphic figurines can be understood as direct self-expressions of humans about their self-perception, self-concept and their image of their community.
Conceptualization and manufacture of anthropomorphic figurines are based on cognitive processes – these processes can be fathomed and understood to a certain extent even today as they are universal for all humans. Us as modern researchers cannot find out WHAT the original producers, observers and users of the figurines were thinking, but with the help of approaches from cognitive science, we can trace HOW they were thinking.
Hence, this paper, which is based on my PhD-project within the research training group “Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: universal, specific, interchanged” (DFG-GRK 1876), proposes a methodology which combines traditional approaches from archaeology and image studies with results from cognitive science to recover the underlying ideas about the human body. By the means of a case study from Egyptian Pre- and Early Dynastic anthropomorphic sculpture (approx. mid/late 5. millennium B.C. – 2700 B.C.) the benefits of this approach will be demonstrated.
The Research Training Group 1876 "Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: Universal, Specific, Inter... more The Research Training Group 1876 "Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: Universal, Specific, Interchanged" invites to its International Conference "Concepts of Humans and Nature between Specificity and Universality" to be held in 2019 on July, 15th–17th at the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz (Germany). Within the framework of the international conference, the RTG aims to deal with the question of possibly universal basic patterns of concepts and their causes as well as with the specific implementations of concepts of humans and nature in early societies. We would like to foster a discussion on whether and how the body or, more generally, our physically grounded experience might be involved in understanding, shaping and even creating concepts within the domains of humans and nature. Thereby we aim to explore the universal or contextual nature of those concepts. More specifically, questions we would like to address include: To what extent can diverse conceptual constructions and theoretical systems, for instance about the cosmos or human body, be traced back to elementary, physically grounded experiences and actions, in order that a universal substratum may be assumed? To what extent are concepts of humans and nature, both concrete and abstract, influenced by our bodily and physically grounded experience? In turn, to what extent do already established concepts influence the social assessment and representation of given phenomena? To what extent could the representation of certain objects, the formation of certain notions and the creation of more abstract concepts and conceptual theories be, in each case study, contextually defined, re-shaped and exploited? How do phenomena, human understanding of phenomena and creative imagination interplay in the formation and development of concepts of humans and nature? How close is the connection between physically grounded actions on the one hand and cognitive processes on the other? We would like to foster a discussion on these questions in an international and interdisciplinary environment, with three panels, which are in line with research projects our RTG is currently working on. Our graduates will be the chairs of those panels: 1) Zones, Parts, Functions – The relationship between body experience and body concepts 2) Conceptualizing Sky and Heaven – Human interactions with meteorological and cosmic phenomena 3) Investigating concepts of the dead body
The international conference aims to deal with the question of possibly universal basic patterns ... more The international conference aims to deal with the question of possibly universal basic patterns of concepts and their causes as well as with the specific implementations of concepts of humans and nature in early societies. We would like to foster a discussion on our research questions in an international and interdisciplinary environment with three panels which are in line with the research projects our RTG is currently working on: A) Conceptualizing Sky and Heaven-Human interactions with meteorological and cosmic phenomena B) "Dead Bodies"-Facing specific and universal aspects of death from Antiquity to the Middle Ages C) Zones, Parts, Functions-The relationship between body experience and body concepts Papers are welcome from all academic fields that are related to these research questions. We are also looking for papers from a cross-cultural, comprehensive or theoretical perspective. We ask those interested in delivering a paper to send an abstract of about 300 words along with a short academic biography to [email protected] by Monday, 31 st of January 2019. Papers can be presented in English or German. Travel and accommodation costs will be paid for all successful applicants. For more information on the conference, in particular for more information on the panels, please visit: https://www.blogs.uni-mainz.de/fb07-grk-man-nature/international-conference-1/
The Research Training Group 1876 "Early Concepts of Man and Nature: Universal, Local, Borrowed" i... more The Research Training Group 1876 "Early Concepts of Man and Nature: Universal, Local, Borrowed" invites to its International Workshop "Resurrecting the Ancient Mind - Cognitive Science in Archaeology and Philology", to be held on 5th and 6th December 2017 at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany).
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Verbindendes Element über geographische und chronologische „Grenzen“ hinweg ist hierbei der Mensch (Homo sapiens), der jeweils die gleichen kognitiven Grundvoraussetzungen besitzt. Folglich ist es lohnenswert, archäologische Bildwerke aus dem Blickwinkel der Kognitionswissenschaft(en) zu betrachten. Während die Anwendung von Methoden aus anderen Disziplinen wie Ikonographie und Semiotik im Bereich der Archäologie schon lange selbstverständlich ist, werden kognitionswissenschaftliche Ansätze bisher jedoch weitgehend vernachlässigt. In Anbetracht der engen Verbindung zwischen Kognitions- und Bildwissenschaften erscheint dies verwunderlich, da Wahrnehmung, Verarbeitung und Herstellung von Bildern auf kognitiven Prozessen beruhen.
Im Vortrag möchten wir anhand konkreter Fallbeispiele aus den Bereichen der Ägyptologie und der Vorderasiatischen Archäologie aufzeigen, wie insbesondere die Kombination von Archäologie und Kognitionswissenschaften für die Entwicklung einer Allgemeinen Bildwissenschaft fruchtbar gemacht werden kann. Besonders gut fassbar ist diese Verbindung in der Untersuchung von Darstellungen von Mischwesen, die von den Anfängen figurativer Kunst bis heute in den meisten Kulturen vorkommen. Diese Bilder können nicht direkt von visuell wahrnehmbaren Objekten in der realen Welt abgeleitet werden. Vielmehr entstehen sie im menschlichen Geist durch die Fähigkeit der kreativen Imagination, bevor sie als Darstellungen in die materielle Welt transferiert werden. Unabhängig von Zeitstellung und kulturellem Umfeld lässt sich nachvollziehen, welche kognitiven Prozesse dabei zugrunde liegen.
Verbindendes Element über geographische und chronologische „Grenzen“ hinweg ist hierbei der Mensch (Homo sapiens), der jeweils die gleichen kognitiven Grundvoraussetzungen besitzt. Folglich ist es lohnenswert, archäologische Bildwerke aus dem Blickwinkel der Kognitionswissenschaft(en) zu betrachten. Während die Anwendung von Methoden aus anderen Disziplinen wie Ikonographie und Semiotik im Bereich der Archäologie schon lange selbstverständlich ist, werden kognitionswissenschaftliche Ansätze bisher jedoch weitgehend vernachlässigt. In Anbetracht der engen Verbindung zwischen Kognitions- und Bildwissenschaften erscheint dies verwunderlich, da Wahrnehmung, Verarbeitung und Herstellung von Bildern auf kognitiven Prozessen beruhen.
Im Vortrag möchten wir anhand konkreter Fallbeispiele aus den Bereichen der Ägyptologie und der Vorderasiatischen Archäologie aufzeigen, wie insbesondere die Kombination von Archäologie und Kognitionswissenschaften für die Entwicklung einer Allgemeinen Bildwissenschaft fruchtbar gemacht werden kann. Besonders gut fassbar ist diese Verbindung in der Untersuchung von Darstellungen von Mischwesen, die von den Anfängen figurativer Kunst bis heute in den meisten Kulturen vorkommen. Diese Bilder können nicht direkt von visuell wahrnehmbaren Objekten in der realen Welt abgeleitet werden. Vielmehr entstehen sie im menschlichen Geist durch die Fähigkeit der kreativen Imagination, bevor sie als Darstellungen in die materielle Welt transferiert werden. Unabhängig von Zeitstellung und kulturellem Umfeld lässt sich nachvollziehen, welche kognitiven Prozesse dabei zugrunde liegen.
The interpretation of the miniature offering scene is today strongly influenced by two mid-20th century studies: von Bissing interpreted the cylinder seals as forerunners of the Early Dynastic relief slabs, which were placed inside the tomb chamber, while Kaplony saw them as seals of the deceased, especially made for burial and enhanced with a fitting title – the offering scene. Both hypotheses place the seals in the sphere of the tomb chamber. In this respect Reisners discovery of five specimen in tombs of the elite cemetery 1500 in Naga ed-Deir was most influential.
However, the revision of archaeological contexts, material and seal inscriptions indicates another interpretation: Out of 154 cylinder seals only 15 were scientifically excavated or found in surveys. The majority was actually discovered in tombs all over Egypt, but four cylinders derive from settlement areas. Furthermore there are five fragments of clay sealings, which show the sign of the offering scene. All sealings clearly belong to none-private economic contexts. Also they were neither known to von Bissing nor to Kaplony.
Still the evidence for the economic use of cylinder seals with offering scenes is very small in quantity. Therefore a representative group of 19 seals from the British Museum and Petrie Museum was studied to identify possible traces of wear from sealing clay stoppers frequently. In fact all examined specimen showed different levels of wear. Moreover characteristic traces of wear from rolling over wet clay and wearing on a thread around the neck could be distinguished. They can also be identified on photographs of cylinder seals and detailed drawings of seal inscriptions. This is another strong argument in favor of interpreting those seals as commodities in constant use for economic activities.
Comparisons of their inscription with Early Dynastic cylinder seals with personal names, which were used in local administration, showed that they are very similar and probably had the same functions. In this case there are two options relating to the meaning of the offering scene: First the offering scene in seal inscriptions has no connection to the funerary cult at all, which is unlikely regarding the contemporary use of the offering scene on relief slabs. Second the offering scene denotes the possessor of the seal as a function owner in some way related to the funerary cult – for example a member of a “funerary estate” as Köhler suggested.
Thanks to the abundance of related finds and written records from the pharaonic period, many aspects of meaning and function of anthropomorphic sculpture are well explored. However, it is barely known how and why Egyptian anthropomorphic sculpture achieved its particular traits such as the typical proportions and the focus on certain body parts, e.g. the eye, as well as how the underlying body concepts evolved.
This paper, which is based on my PhD-project within the research training group “Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: universal, specific, interchanged” (DFG-GRK 1876), aims to answer these questions by looking at the period of origin of the principles of Egyptian art. The material analyzed in this regard is the Pre- and Early Dynastic anthropomorphic sculpture as a whole. The methodology to recover the underlying ideas about the human body combines traditional approaches from Archaeology and image studies with results from cognitive science.
Nevertheless, anthropomorphic figurines contain even more information that is frequently overlooked: the knowledge and ideas about the human body. Anthropomorphic figurines are artefacts of human thought like all forms of artistic expression. Based on that, anthropomorphic figurines can be understood as direct self-expressions of humans about their self-perception, self-concept and their image of their community.
Conceptualization and manufacture of anthropomorphic figurines are based on cognitive processes – these processes can be fathomed and understood to a certain extent even today as they are universal for all humans. Us as modern researchers cannot find out WHAT the original producers, observers and users of the figurines were thinking, but with the help of approaches from cognitive science, we can trace HOW they were thinking.
Hence, this paper, which is based on my PhD-project within the research training group “Early Concepts of Humans and Nature: universal, specific, interchanged” (DFG-GRK 1876), proposes a methodology which combines traditional approaches from archaeology and image studies with results from cognitive science to recover the underlying ideas about the human body. By the means of a case study from Egyptian Pre- and Early Dynastic anthropomorphic sculpture (approx. mid/late 5. millennium B.C. – 2700 B.C.) the benefits of this approach will be demonstrated.
Within the framework of the international conference, the RTG aims to deal with the question of possibly universal basic patterns of concepts and their causes as well as with the specific implementations of concepts of humans and nature in early societies. We would like to foster a discussion on whether and how the body or, more generally, our physically grounded experience might be involved in understanding, shaping and even creating concepts within the domains of humans and nature. Thereby we aim to explore the universal or contextual nature of those concepts. More specifically, questions we would like to address include:
To what extent can diverse conceptual constructions and theoretical systems, for instance about the cosmos or human body, be traced back to elementary, physically grounded experiences and actions, in order that a universal substratum may be assumed?
To what extent are concepts of humans and nature, both concrete and abstract, influenced by our bodily and physically grounded experience? In turn, to what extent do already established concepts influence the social assessment and representation of given phenomena?
To what extent could the representation of certain objects, the formation of certain notions and the creation of more abstract concepts and conceptual theories be, in each case study, contextually defined, re-shaped and exploited?
How do phenomena, human understanding of phenomena and creative imagination interplay in the formation and development of concepts of humans and nature?
How close is the connection between physically grounded actions on the one hand and cognitive processes on the other?
We would like to foster a discussion on these questions in an international and interdisciplinary environment, with three panels, which are in line with research projects our RTG is currently working on. Our graduates will be the chairs of those panels:
1) Zones, Parts, Functions – The relationship between body experience and body concepts
2) Conceptualizing Sky and Heaven – Human interactions with meteorological and cosmic phenomena
3) Investigating concepts of the dead body