Abraham Moles
Encyclopedia
Abraham Moles was an engineer of electrical engineering
and acoustics
, and a doctor of physics
and philosophy
. He was one of the first researchers to establish and analyze links between aesthetics
and information theory
.
He taught sociology
and psychology
at the Universities of Ulm
, Strasbourg
, San Diego, Mexico
, Compiègne
, and founded the
Institute of Social Psychology
of Communication
in Strasbourg
.
Electrical engineering
Electrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
and acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
, and a doctor of physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
. He was one of the first researchers to establish and analyze links between aesthetics
Aesthetics
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy dealing with the nature of beauty, art, and taste, and with the creation and appreciation of beauty. It is more scientifically defined as the study of sensory or sensori-emotional values, sometimes called judgments of sentiment and taste...
and information theory
Information theory
Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. Information theory was developed by Claude E. Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and...
.
He taught sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
and psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the Universities of Ulm
Ulm
Ulm is a city in the federal German state of Baden-Württemberg, situated on the River Danube. The city, whose population is estimated at 120,000 , forms an urban district of its own and is the administrative seat of the Alb-Donau district. Ulm, founded around 850, is rich in history and...
, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, San Diego, Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
, Compiègne
Compiègne
Compiègne is a city in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise.The city is located along the Oise River...
, and founded the
Institute of Social Psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
of Communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
.
Selected work
- Physique et technique du bruit, Paris, Dunod, 1952
- La Création scientifique, Genève, Kister, 1957
- Musiques expérimentales, Zurich, Cercle d'art, 1961
- Communications et langages, (en collaboration avec B. Vallancien), Paris, Gauthier-Villars, 1963
- Phonétique et phonation, (en collaboration avec B. Vallancien) Paris, Masson, 1966
- L'affiche dans la société urbaine, Paris, Dunod, 1969
- Créativité et méthodes d'innovation, Paris, Fayard, 1970
- Art et ordinateur, Paris, Casterman, 1971
- Théorie des objets, Paris, Ed. Universitaires, 1972
- Psychologie de l'espace, (En collaboration avec Élisabeth Rohmer), Paris, Casterman, 1972
- Théorie de l'information et perception esthétique, Paris, Denoël, 1973 (Information TheoryInformation theoryInformation theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. Information theory was developed by Claude E. Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and...
and aesthetical perception) - Sociodynamique de la culture, Paris, Mouton, 1973
- La Communication, Paris, Marabout, 1973
- Micropsychologie et vie quotidienne, (En collaboration avec Élisabeth Rohmer), Paris, Denoël, 1976
- Psychologie du Kitsch, Paris, Denoël, 1977
- Théorie des actes, (En collaboration avec Élisabeth Rohmer), Paris, Casterman, 1977
- L'image, communication fonctionnelle, Paris, Casterman, 1981
- Labyrinthes du vécu, Paris, Klincksieck, 1982
- Théorie structurale de la communication et société, Paris, Masson, 1986
- Les sciences de l'imprécis, (En collaboration avec Élisabeth Rohmer), Paris, Seuil, 1990
- Psychosociologie de l'espace, (En collaboration avec Élisabeth Rohmer), textes rassemblés, mis en forme et présentés par Victor Schwach, Paris, L'Harmattan, 1998