This conference paper explores how what we perceive differs from what we believe. The authors bring three perspectives together with the aim of seeking meaning in our relationship with our natural “arena” through symbolic metalanguage:1) comprehending a gestalt approach to perception and narratives as metaphor; 2) gaining perceptual reciprocity to enhance our relationship with nature; 3) overcoming the obstacles of misinterpretation and unreliable narratives of the simulacra. It was presented at the 2022 Association of Philosophy and Literature Conference held May 25-28, 2022.

Article comments on the claims made by the authors of the original article. The authors of the commentary note flaws in the DFT-based methodology and the commentators describe differences between their application and the original article's described application.