The Senses of Touch and Hearing in Human Rootedness - Essay Example

Human Rootedness and Its Importance People tend to give so much emphasis on the importance of sight that they consequently ignore the relevance of the other senses. From the earliest prominent philosophers until many of today’s respected thinkers, the idea being upheld is that vision is the greatest of the senses. By establishing a hierarchy in the appreciation of the senses though, there is also the propensity for man to detach himself from his inherent humanness. Apparently, it is not just vision that makes a human being; it is also the other four senses. Aside from sight, man can only enjoy his existence and make it relevant if he has the senses of hearing, touch, scent, and taste. In fact, he can even discern further on the existence of other things by using not just his eyes but all the other faculties related to the other four senses. This is the point raised by Juhani Pallasmaa in the book The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. In Vision and Knowledge, which is a definitive portion of the book, the renowned architect provides valuable philosophical inputs on the dominant mode of thinking regarding the designs of buildings and other works of architecture. Pallasmaa categorically expresses the perspective that the overemphasis on vision and the tendency to set aside or to relegate the other senses to a minor role can be seen in the very architectural designs that are prevalent. As a consequence, building designs too are no longer anchored on comprehensive humanness but only one aspect, vision, which is often associated to aesthetics when it comes to architecture. Pallasmaa’s view, however, is not only relevant to architecture. It may even be considered as a current truth seen in how human beings actually treat themselves and everything else that surrounds them. By ignoring the importance of the other four senses, people are predisposed to lose their human rootedness. By losing such rootedness, they drift towards the creation of objects that are not really founded on the most positive and innate characteristics of humans. The feeling of the alienation and detachment not just from others but from one’s own humanness can be attributed to environmental factors. Ironically, such external conditions are not natural but are made by man too. As an architect, Pallasmaa points out that the man’s own products in building design and construction have led to such situation. He writes that “the growing experiences of alienation, detachment, and solitude in the technological world today, for instance, may be related with a certain pathology of the senses.” (284) It is clear that technology is a product of man’s ingenuity. Since it is always associated with the future, technology is a product of man’s vision. The other senses could only appreciate the present; it is vision that is capable of grasping the things that has yet to come. However, alienation and solitude are obvious symptoms of the lack of human rootedness. Human rootedness is the condition in which an individual is in touch with himself and with the world around him. This can only be achieved by relying on all his senses and not just sight. Sight can take one’s attention away from objective conditions but the other senses would certainly keep him grounded. It is true that having sight means having sense of direction. With it, man is able to build and travel from the present to the future. However, “the art of the eye has certainly produced imposing and thought-provoking structures, but it has not facilitated human rootedness in the world.” (Pallasmaa 286) There are beautifully designed buildings that satisfy the sight but have failed to provide contentment to the individual. There are structures that may be visually appealing but also strike a feeling of loneliness and of isolation. There are imposing buildings that convey authority but these also trigger the sense of isolation of those who do not own or control it. All these are proofs that the neglect of other senses and the overemphasis on sight can adversely affect human rootedness. I satisfying the sight, impressions are projected and ideas are conveyed. However, without considering the other senses, these do not really connect people. These can make people understand but not empathize or sympathize with the concept or message being delivered. The senses of touch and hearing are very important in guaranteeing human rootedness. This is because both imply an experience that is more personal and internal. Humans feel not just themselves but also for others. Apparently, sight alone cannot make a human being achieve sympathy and empathy. Pallasmaa aptly puts it when he said that “the eye is the organ of distance and separation, whereas touch is the sense of nearness, intimacy, and affection.” (286) One person may see another in pain but unless he gets to touch that person, he would never be able to provide a sense of comfort. In this regard, it is clear that sight may evoke a meaning but it does not invoke sympathy. To be truly rooted in humanness, one should not just lend attention with the eyes but with the sense of touch too. Touching, after all, is what connects and not just seeing. In fact, sight can create distance instead of affection. Pallasmaa explains that “sight isolates, whereas sound incorporates; vision is directional, whereas sound is omni-directional.” (287) To be truly rooted, a human being must be conscious about his surroundings. This cannot be done with the use of just one or two of his senses. With sight, one can pinpoint the location of a thing. He can describe the shape, color, and all other dimensions that could be ascertained just by looking at it. However, in order to understand all the other attributes, a person must also feel the object by touching it; listen to it if it sounds, or even smell and taste it if possible. It is only by doing so that a more comprehensive description of objects is achieved. Apparently, the non-consideration of the other senses could result into an inaccurate appreciation of things and this definitely has an adverse effect in human rootedness. Rootedness is based on objectivity, which can only be realized by grasping the all-sidedness of things. All-sidedness, on the other hand, can be appreciated only with the use of all the senses. In his field of expertise, it is expected that Pallasmaa would often use the works of architecture as his point of reference. However, the principles that he states are also applicable for other aspects of human life. In order to explain the importance of human rootedness, it is necessary to put the points he raised in context with life in general. Pallasmaa writes that “vision becomes transferred to taste as well; certain colors and delicate details evoke oral sensations.” (296) Such argument is definitely applicable not just to architecture but to aspects in life as well. It is through taste that the subjective reactions are stoked further. An object is no longer visually attractive but also more desirable after it has been tasted. Man’s initial perception of things may be made possible by sight. However, it is when these are processed through the other senses that objective conclusions are attained. It is definitely when an object is tasted that its value or meaning is better appreciated and internalized. Vision is a requirement for identification and distinction; it allows one to distinguish an object from the others. However, it is through the other senses, particularly taste, that the individual is able to internalize further the essence of an object. It is through tasting that the “sensory experience of the world originates in the interior sensation of the mouth, and the world tends to return to its oral origins.” (296) The basic instinct of the human being is to feed himself in order to survive. This is the reason why of all the senses, that which is very important to his health is taste. Taste is the means for one to identify which is edible or not, which is advantageous for humans and which is not. Since this serves and is prompted by the interest to survive, it is only right to consider taste as essential to achieving human rootedness. It is clear that if one has to enjoy living, he has to have this sense too. Without which, he could never experience the joys of human life and he would naturally be unable to appreciate the value of his own existence as well as that others. With concept, it is obvious that the importance of human rootedness can be associated to the appreciation of life. It is only through human rootedness that an individual is able to appreciate fully the essence of things that surround him. This may seem surprising if one considers that rootedness is supposed to be a perception that is brought about by the observation of oneself and not of the external conditions. However, in order to describe or define accurately the internal, it is necessary that it be studied in relation to the external. Dialectics, after all, dictate that nothing in this world is absolutely independent. The existence of one is based also on the conditions of another. It must be pointed out though that the internal is decisive. It is in this context that the importance of all the senses highlighted. As reiterated by Pallasmaa, it is through the use of the senses that an architect is able to create a design that takes into consideration human rootedness. Aside from architecture though the, the principles discussed by Pallasmaa are clearly appropriated for application in life. It is the through touching, listening, smelling, and tasting that a human being will truly appreciate the value of an object. Of course, sight is the important first stage in the appreciation of things but if this becomes the only basis for coming up with a finding or a conclusion. The chances of its accuracy can be insignificant. If man is unable to define accurately the things that surround him because of the non-use of the other senses, then he too would not be able to find his own footing on things. He too would not be able to define himself in the most accurate manner. From Pallasmaa’s perspective and based on field of expertise, human rootedness is very important because it means creating architectural designs that give due consideration to the basic characteristics and needs of people. It is through this that the product of their work becomes really valuable to those who will use it. From the point of any individual, however, in whatever profession he is in. Human rootedness is the foundation of his very mindset on almost everything in the world. The more rooted is one with his humanness, the more he is sensitive to the needs of others. Work Cited Pallasmaa, Juhani. “Excerpts from the Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses.” Read More