Gombrich And Popper

This paper aims at the discovery of the parallel relation between the theory of art historian and art theorist, Sir. Ernst H. Gombrich and that of philosopher, epistemologist and political scientist Sir. Karl R. Popper, using the Parallelism as main study approach and the method of substitution as applied method. Gombrich's theoretical contributions, which range over a variety of fields including psychology of art, art vision recognition, the logic of art history, the theory of the changing of style and the theory of value of art, are based on the grounds of the scientific philosophy and methodology of Popper, which consist of Falsificationism, the method of trial and error, epistemology, the criticism of historism, the three worlds theory and realism. Not only does this paper discuss in detail the theoretical arguments of Gombrich in the areas mentioned above, but it also emphasizes his original creations and practical progenies, such as the psychology of art based on "Schema and Correction", the theory of creation of art based on "Making and Matching", the theory of the changing of style based on the "Logic of Vanity Fair" and the criticism of Plato-Hegelism, essentialism, subjectivism and relativism. The paper features the innovative integration and classification of the world of Gombrich's theories according to the three worlds theory, and exhibits the internal relationships among every aspects of it. Moreover, there will be introductory analysis of corresponding theory of Popper's before discussing every part of the theories of Gombrich's, and it clearly reflects the parallel structures existing in their theories. Furthermore, the additional details of their friendship given in this paper strengthen the parallel structures from a sociological perspective. In the end the author expatiates the breakpoint of their parallel relation and proposes some valuable ideas for the further reconstruction.