ABSTRACT
The visual display of knowledge is all around us. Flicking through a children's encyclopaedia, I notice a visual diagram of the internal combustion engine, the anatomy of the digestive tract, a cross-section of geological strata and the workings of the offside rule, plates distinguishing ox-eye from leopardsbane, dandelion from hawkbit, different varieties of fritillary or hairstreak butterflies, marsh tits from willow tits. For many of our enquiries about the natural and man-made world explanatory images like these can be provided, refining our perception and understanding. There is reassurance in their clarity and economy of presentation. This seems to be something which only eye-centred explanations can secure. The illustrative image appears to be emphatic and unambiguous where even the most scrupulous descriptive text can be misunderstood.
