In our experience, seeing always precedes behaviour; first one needs to perceive something and only then does one engage in action; for example, before one changes direction while driving, she needs to see a pertinent road sign. Although this may seem obvious, neuroscience in reality tells us quite the opposite. The authors accompany their readers on a journey through the relationship between eye, brain and behaviour. They explain the unitary nature underlying vision and action and how each of us plays a crucial role in building the world around us, rather than being a passive receptor of external stimuli. Acknowledging the relationship between vision and action has consequences for many domains of everyday life, such as design, robotics, and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, readers will discover how culture itself influences how people see the objects with which they interact on a daily basis.

Gabriele Ferretti is a research fellow in Theoretical Philosophy at the University of Florence.

Silvano Zipoli Caiani teaches Philosophy of the Mind at the University of Florence.