Philographics is a collection of posters explaining complex philosophical theories through basic shapes. A practical, light, fast and accessible visual guide to philosophy powered by curiosity.
Philographics is a visual guide to philosophy created by Genis Carreras, a London based graphic designer. His way of presenting marxism, dualism or the other 46 theories is so refreshing. If I would have seen these posters ten years ago I would have probably be more interested in philosophy. It just makes so much sense! I guess the fact that I am more of a visual learner would have something to do with everything.
To find out more, I approached Genis with some questions to see his point of view on this project.
Who is Genis Carreras?
I’m a 25 years old graphic designer from Catalonia, currently based on East London from where I have my studio and I do some freelance and personal work.
What motivated you to create Philosophy? What inspired you?
Graphic design is all about delivering a message and the good thing about creating a personal project is that you can choose what do you want to talk about. I’ve been interested in philosophy for a long time and I found it interesting to mix it with my other passion, design. The project started as a set of 9 designs explaining 9 different theories, that later became a set of 48. I’m currently working hard to publish a book with about 100 theories that wants to be a visual guide to philosophy. Back to your question, I’m strongly inspired by the swiss graphic design from the sixties.
Why this subject? Why philosophy?
Because philosophy and graphic design might seem opposites: one is theoretic, heavy, slow and complex; the other is practical, light, fast and accessible. I guess I was curious about how the theories would take shape as graphic forms. It turns out that the designs not only look nice but they can also help to understand some of these ideas.
Why this visual style?
I do believe that less is more and that’s why I decided to use only basic shapes and colour to explain the theories. Simplicity allows people to project their own thoughts in order to complete the design, while colour can be eye-catchy and beautiful, and, at the same time, communicate sensations and moods.
Looking at his designs and the thinking behind it, you can’t do anything else but admire.
The belief that reality exists independently of our own observation or perception.
The theory that human reason can be the source of all knowledge
The position that the only authentic knowledge is that acquired through scientific means
The philosophical view that the world, and human existence in particular, is without meaning, purpose, truth, or value
A set of philosophical, political and economic positions based on the work of Karl Marx, centered upon a materialist interpretation of history and critique of capitalism
The philosophical view that asserts that reality is fundamentally based on, and shaped by, ideas and mental experience, rather than material forces
A range of ethical views that consider human nature to be the source of morality
The theory that the properties of a system cannot be understood by the sum of its parts alone, but by how the system behaves as a whole
The ethical position that pleasure is that ultimate goal and greatest good, and should be the central aim of all decisions made
The ability of consccious agents to be free to make their owwn decisions, free of any social, moral or political constraints
The idea that all philosophical thought must begin with the experiences of the individual, and it is up to the individual to give meaning and authenticity to their own existence
The scientific doctrine stating that all knowledge ultimately comes from sensory experience and observable evidence, rather that intuition or pre-conceived ideas
The conviction that all concepts withing the world fundamentally consist of two contrasting qualities, such as good and evil, or body and mind
The inflexible adherence to a rigid doctrine or ideology, not open to rational argument or debate
The proposition that all events, including those of human thoughts, are casually determined by an unbroken chain of prior events
The organization of society through strong, often oppressive measures against its people
The absence of belief that gods or deities exist
The position that within a particular school of thought, all different perspectives are either absolutely true or absolutely false
The school of ethics that strives towards the maximisation of welfare for the maximum number of people
The belief that a god or deity is present and active in the Universe
The view that only direct mental experience is certain, as things external to one’s own mind cannot be known
The method of practicing doubt when regarding what is held as knowledge
The assertion that n belief can be said to have absolute truth, having value only within a certain context or frame of reference
The idea that the nature of complex things can always be reduced and explained by simpler more fundamental truths
An economic system based n the production of goods for profit, and the private ownership of the means of production
A view that places emphasis on the group over the individual, often holding the belief that the “greater good” of the group is more important that the good of any individual withing it
The view that reality, and the methods we use to understand it, are man-made, subjective constructions rather than an objective reading of events
A range of views that argue that a phenomenon can only be properly understood within the context it occurred
The lack of belief in selfless or sincere human qualities, such as altruism, honesty or virtue, believing instead that people are driven only by self-interest
A conceptual approach that does not stick to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories or styles to gain a more varied or balanced insight into something
A political ideology that holds that all people should be treated as equals
The assertion that all individual ethical judgements are purely expressions of one’s own attitude intended to change the actions or attitudes of others
The view that physical events have effects on mental processes, but that mental processes have no physical effects whatsoever
The philosophical position that time is just another dimension, that future events already exist, and that all points in time are equally real
The assertion that any event is defined by a pre-set final outcome, and that all events leading up to that outcome are shaped by it
The theory that to understand a historical event, you must understand the philosophical context that it took place in, rather than explain it with supposedly timeless or fundamental ideas
The political stance that the rights of individuals should be protected over that of collectives, such as states, religions or social groups
The belief that universal or mental concepts have no objective reality, and exist only as the words or “names” we give them
In ethics, the belief that certain acts are objectively right or wrong
The principle that emotional and physical self-control leads to inner peace adn strength, allowing one to live a happier life
The attempt to reconcile disparate, even contradictory, beliefs into one belief structure
A political ideology in which a state enforces national loyalty and identity in order to mobilise or oppress its population
The doctrine that “vital forces”, often equated with the soul, are active in living organisms, and that life cannot be explained solely by material or mechanism
The belief that ouur main efforts in life should be focused on creating and enjoying beauty, in all its forms
The practice and principle of using actions to benefit others, expecting nothing in return
A range of views that oppose the idea of the state as a means of governance, instead advocating a society based on non-hierarchical relationships
The conviction that the existence of human beings is the central reason for the universe’s existence
The theory that all things in the universe are composed of very small, indestructible elements
