--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know that sensory phenomena are…" description: "\"We know that sensory phenomena are transcribed in the photographic emulsion in such a way that even if there is a causal link with the real phenomena, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/umberto-eco-313_arbitrary_we-know-that-sensory-phenomena-are-trans_863422.jpg" --- # We know that sensory phenomena are transcribed in the… ![“We know that sensory phenomena are transcribed in the photographic emulsion in such a way that even if there is a causal link with the real phenomena, the graphic images can be considered as wholly arbitrary with respect to these phenomena.” quote by Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/umberto-eco-313_arbitrary_we-know-that-sensory-phenomena-are-trans_863422.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/umberto-eco-313_arbitrary_we-know-that-sensory-phenomena-are-trans_863422.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/988/umberto-eco-313_arbitrary_we-know-that-sensory-phenomena-are-trans_863422.jpg) > “We know that sensory phenomena are transcribed in the photographic emulsion in such a way that even if there is a causal link with the real phenomena, the graphic images can be considered as wholly arbitrary with respect to these phenomena.” [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Photographic images, though derived from reality, are ultimately arbitrary representations detached from the original phenomena. **In simple terms:** Photos are arbitrary copies of reality. Key Takeaway Question visual evidence. Themes art perception representation truth Mood critical inquisitive Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - journalism - legal evidence - education Key Concepts semiotics media theory Questions to Reflect On - How do we verify authenticity? - What role does interpretation play? A Different Perspective Images can be manipulated; context matters. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arbitrary/) [Graphic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/graphic/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Links](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/links/) [Phenomena Transcribed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomena-transcribed-877440/) [Photographic Emulsion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographic-emulsion-877442/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-phenomena-877441/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Sensory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensory/) [Sensory Phenomena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensory-phenomena-877439/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Wholly Arbitrary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholly-arbitrary-877443/) ## Related quotes > [Hopefully we are emerging from an era of fantasy explanations for real phenomena. 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Anything, however trifling, may be of use one day. What matters is to know something that others don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/listening-doesn-t-mean-trying-to-understand-anything-however-trifling/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [They say that a cat, if it falls from a window and hits its nose, can lose its sense of smell and then, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/they-say-that-a-cat-if-it-falls-from-a-window-and-hits-its-nose-can/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are magic moments, involving great physical fatigue and intense motor excitement, that produce visions of people known in the past. As I learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-magic-moments-involving-great-physical-fatigue-and-intense/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [All poets write bad poetry. Bad poets publish them, good poets burn them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/all-poets-write-bad-poetry-bad-poets-publish-them-good-poets-burn-them/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [There are four kinds of people in this world: cretins, fools, morons, and lunatics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/there-are-four-kinds-of-people-in-this-world-cretins-fools-morons-and/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) [Explore all 600 Umberto Eco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More Arbitrary quotes > [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. 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The calendar consents to carry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clifton-fadiman/to-divide-one-s-life-by-years-is-of-course-to-tumble-into-a-trap-set/) [Clifton Fadiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clifton-fadiman/) > [Not to be offensive, not to be capricious, not to be arbitrary, not to be neurotic, not to be an actor outer, you're just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hurt/not-to-be-offensive-not-to-be-capricious-not-to-be-arbitrary-not-to/) [William Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hurt/) > [I don't concern myself with thinking ahead to the finished product. I focus more specifically on what the character is experiencing. Once you relieve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-eisenberg/i-don-t-concern-myself-with-thinking-ahead-to-the-finished-product-i/) [Jesse Eisenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-eisenberg/) > [Habit is altogether too arbitrary a master for me to submit to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-kaspar-lavater/habit-is-altogether-too-arbitrary-a-master-for-me-to-submit-to/) [Johann Kaspar Lavater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-kaspar-lavater/) > [I look back, now, and I know that the naming moment, which seemed so insignificant then, which seemed to demand no more than an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-david-roberts/i-look-back-now-and-i-know-that-the-naming-moment-which-seemed-so/) [Gregory David Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-david-roberts/) > [Police in China can do whatever they want; after 81 days in arbitrary detention you clearly realise that they don't have to obey their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ai-weiwei/police-in-china-can-do-whatever-they-want-after-81-days-in-arbitrary/) [Ai Weiwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ai-weiwei/) > [Contrary to what certain governments say, human rights are universal. 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