appearance
Let an agent describe appearances accurately and respectfully, explain the appearance and reality distinction, present research on physical appearance and society with attribution, and separate other senses such as making an appearance.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions
Describe Describing appearances.
Describe
Accurate description.
Describe
Description.
- How can the appearance of a person, object or place be described accurately and respectfully? action
- Is the visual sense or another sense of appearance meant? boundary
Terms
Vocabulary.
Terms
Vocabulary.
- What vocabulary describes look, complexion, form and impression, and what does agerasia mean? definition
- How is appearance described across languages? action
Philosophy Appearance and reality.
Reality
The distinction.
Reality
Distinction.
- How have philosophers treated the distinction between appearance and reality, from Plato and Kant to phenomenology? provenance
- Which entry fits a specific philosopher? action
Perception
Perception.
Perception
Perception.
- How does perception construct appearances, according to psychology? provenance
- Which entry fits perception? action
Society Physical appearance and society.
Research
Research.
Research
Research.
- What does research say about the effects of physical appearance on social and economic outcomes? provenance
- Which findings are contested? boundary
Discrimination
Discrimination and rights.
Discrimination
Rights.
- How do laws address appearance-based discrimination, and what advertising rules cover altered images? provenance
- Is the person in distress about appearance, needing support? boundary
Learn Teaching and culture.
Culture
Ideals of appearance.
Culture
Culture.
- How have ideals of appearance varied across cultures and periods, according to historians? provenance
- Is the presentation neutral? boundary
Teach
Teaching.
Teach
Teaching.
- How can description and the appearance-reality distinction be taught? action
- Which misconceptions arise? provenance
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- Thing Registry
- Category
- Cross-cutting context
- Entry kind
- noun.attribute
- Plane
- XCT
- Domain
- XCT.QLT
- Facets: substance
- abstract
- Facets: origin
- conceptual
- Facets: agency
- inert
- Facets: mobility
- not-applicable
- Facets: scale
- not-applicable
- Facets: affordances
- observable
- Other names and narrower kinds
- visual aspect, agerasia, look, complexion, impression, effect, perspective, linear perspective, phase, tout ensemble, vanishing point, superficies
What it is Filled
The outward or visible aspect of a person or thing, including look, complexion, form and the impression or effect it makes on observers, as distinct from underlying nature or reality; appearance is discussed in everyday description, in philosophy as the contrast between appearance and reality, in psychology and society regarding physical appearance, and includes the youthful look termed agerasia.
Why it exists Filled
Let an agent describe appearances accurately and respectfully, explain the appearance and reality distinction, present research on physical appearance and society with attribution, and separate other senses such as making an appearance.
Distinguishing features Filled
- Visual aspect
- Observer impression
- Distinct from reality
- Social significance
What robots and AI may and may not do Filled
Must not
- Judge a person's worth, character or ability by their appearance.
- Make demeaning comments about a person's body, face or dress.
- Infer race, health or sexuality from appearance as fact.
- Use appearance to rank candidates for jobs, loans or services.
Only with a human decision
- Describing an identifiable person's appearance for publication or identification.
May
- Describe the appearance of things or people neutrally when asked, such as for accessibility.
- Explain the philosophical contrast between appearance and reality.
Moral aspects Filled
- Appearance-based discrimination harms people in work and public life.
- Comments on appearance can wound, especially young people.
Who is affected
- People described
- Young people
- People with visible differences
Owners Filled
Steward
Nobody owns it; each person owns their own image.
Links to other meta-models Filled
parent
- oewn-04731092-n - registry parent class
related
- quality - category
- smile - facial appearance
- model - appearance-based work
- perception - how appearances are seen
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Filled
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Vercy registry: vr.tr.appearance
- Open English WordNet: oewn-04681322-n
Direct properties not applicable Not applicable
Not applicable
Plane XCT: no invented physical properties.
Recognition optional Filled
- Outward visible aspect
- Impression on observers
- Making an appearance or a court appearance are other senses
- Not a thing itself; the look of things.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- describe appearances
- explain appearance versus reality
- present research with attribution
- separate other senses
Hazards and failure modes required Filled
- Judgemental descriptions
- Appearance-based discrimination
- Confusing senses
Standards and interfaces required Filled
- Anti-discrimination law covering appearance in some jurisdictions
- Advertising standards on altered images
- No regulation of the concept
Context of use required Filled
- The visible aspect of things and people.
- physical appearance of people
- appearance of objects and places
- appearance versus reality in philosophy
- impressions and effects
- youthful appearance and ageing
Sources Filled
- Open English WordNet 2024, synset oewn-04681322-n - sense and gloss of the concept
- Wiktionary: appearance - word senses and usage
Open questions
- Should physical appearance be a separate entry?
- How should research be linked?
- How should philosophical sources be linked?
Machine files
Provenance
thing registry research (pass 2) · unreviewed
Built from: models/things/publications/thing-appearance/spec.json