Note 38 — VI The Properties of Organized Wholes

Once, Bühler tried to give an explanation of at least one very characteristic form, viz., the straight line. As he assumed that all retinal points which form a straight line are connected with each other in a special manner anatomically and that, therefore, the straight line is something specifically determined, his hypothesis has the character of a machine theory. I do not think that this is the way in which we may hope to solve our problem. There are a great many particularly characteristic forms besides the straight line. Shall we assume for each of them a preëxisting anatomical apparatus? or rather, a great many for each single form, since it may be projected upon many different parts of the retina? If not, “form” must be explained dynamically in general, and the most characteristic or regular forms must be explained by the special regularity of dynamics occurring under appropriate conditions.