What is the Meaning of Shape? - Gestalt Theory

GESTALT THEORY, Vol. 33, No.3/4
do not say anything about what a shape is. They only state that in the case of the
square/diamond illusion some factors influence the switch from one shape to
another. Even if these factors are likely really effective, they cannot explain the
meaning of shape. As a consequence, on the basis of these factors what determines
the perception of a square and a diamond is not accounted for.
4. Doubts about the Role of Frame of Reference
4.1. On the Second Order Square/Diamond Illusion
The limits of these hypotheses can be highlighted even more effectively through
some new phenomenal conditions useful to understand the meaning of shape.
Their rationale is the following: if the perceived shape is a description relative
to a perceptual frame of reference, then results analogous to those achieved with
the square/diamond illusion are expected to be attained through second order
variations of squares and diamonds.
In Fig. 3a, the square and the diamond of Figs. 2a and 2c and the rotated square
of Fig. 2b are changed by making the sides concave. Under these conditions the
two main effects previously described, i.e. the square/diamond switch and the size
difference between the horizontal and vertical conditions, are strongly reduced or
even absent. They appear more easily like the same figure with different amount
of rotation.
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