In my book Viewpoint Relativism (2020: 43) I define a point of view to be a three element system <S,O,A>, where S is the subject and O is the object of point of view whereas A is an aspect of O representing O to S. In short, in a point of view, an aspect represents the object for the subject. To use metaphorical expression, in a point of view an aspect opens a “window” to the world: looking at the object in the light of aspect. A practical way express points of view is to use schema 

S considers O from the viewpoint A.

Like, economist considers the society from the viewpoint of economy. 

In the article (Hautamäki 2024) I enlarge the concept of points of view to include frames. In general, frames are mental models or conceptual systems representing the world. The concepts in a frame are representations of reality. The frame consists of a set of relations between concepts. These relations do not fix completely the content of concepts.  Frame is a general structure that can be applied to several objects by specifying values of content variables. 

The concept of frame is used frequently in artificial intelligence, cognitive science, linguistics and psychology (see Collins & Smith 1988; Cukier et all 2021; Bermúdez 2021). Marvin Minsky seems to launch the very concept of frame in his article “A Framework for Representing Knowledge” (Minsky 1988).  In cognitive science, many other concepts about mental models beside frames, like scripts (Schank and Abelson 1988) and schemata (Rumelhart et al. 1988), are used. When we say that frames are mental models, we mean that frames are operating in our mind and brains, i.e. they are mental, but that they are also models of the world or situations.  Frames categorise the world, representing the structure of reality. 

According to Minsky 

[a] frame is a data-structure for representing a stereotypical situation, like being in certain kind of living room, or going to a child’s birthday party. Attached to each frame are several kinds of information. Some of this information is about how to use the frame. Some are about what one can expect to happen next. Some is about what to do if these expectations are not confirmed. (Minsky 1988: 156)

Formally, we can think that a frame is a network of nodes and relations between them. Some of these (structural elements) are fixed and represent things that are always true about supposed situation. Some (contextual elements) are slots to be filled by specific features of an actual situation. So frames are used to give a structure to different situations. But the actual content of a frame is fixed by contextual elements.

A point of view opens a window to the world, but to tell how the world is we need frames. Points of view and frames go always hand in hand.  It is reasonable to extend the concept of points of view by adding frames to points of view. Let F denotes a frame. I define now a point of view to be a four elements system <S,F,O,A>, where the subject S uses the frame F to categorize the object O as represented by the aspect A.

In our extended concept of points of view, we can define perspectives to be parts of points of view. In this four elements system, the couple <O,A>  represents ontic side and the couple <S,F> cognitive sideof points of view. With a certain reservation, we can think that cognitive side is subjective and ontic side is objective part of points of view. In fact, it is impossible to draw a sharp line between subjective and objective elements in cognition. 

I propose to call the couple <O,A> a perspective. This is motivated, because perspectives are not directly dependent on subjects. We can think that perspectives are constituents of the world in the sense that the world is just the configuration of all perspectives. It is subject’s activity to select an aspect of the object and to use a frame to categorise the object as seen from that aspect. In a point of view the subject has an access to perspectives. 

This extended concept of points of view combines together the concepts of frame and perspective. Perspective is an element of points of view but it is also a constitutive part of reality. The world is “multiperspectival”, consisting of endless amount of perspectives. Each perspective can be approach by selecting a relevant aspect. Frames of points of view express what the world looks like from a perspective. Frames are conceptual models of reality and as such they are fitting the world only partially. I think that this account of perspectives expresses the essence of perspectivism as presented, say,  by Nietzsche and Ortega y Gasset. 

References

Bermúdez, J. L. (2021): Frame it again. New tools for Rational Decision-Making. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. 

Collins, A. and E.E. Smith (Eds.) (1988): Reading in Cognitive Science, A Perspective from Psychology and Artificial Intelligence. San Mateo, California: Morgan Kaufmann Publ.

Cukier, K., Mayer-Schönberger, V. & de Véricourt, F. (2021): Framers, Human Advantages in an Age of Technology and Turmoil. Dutton, New York.

Hautamäki, A. (2020): Viewpoint Relativism, A New Approach to Epistemological Relativism based on the Concept of Points of view. Synthese Library. Springer.

Hautamäki, A, (2024): “An extended concept of points of view containing frames”. Análisis. Revista de investigación filosófica, vol. 11, n.º 2 (2024): 309-315.

Minsky, M. (1988): “A Framework for Representing Knowledge”, in Collins and Smith (1988), 156-189.

Rumelhart, D.E., Smolensky, P., McClelland, J.L. & Hinton, G.E. (1988): “Schemata and Sequential Though Processes in PDF Models”, in Collins and Smith (1988),  224-249.

Schank, R.C. & Abelson R.P. (1988): “Scripts, Plans, Goals, and Understanding”, in Collins and Smith (1988), 199-223.