mannerappearing

Mannerappearing is a term used in philosophy of mind and aesthetics to denote the perceptual salience of the manner in which an action is performed, as distinguished from its outcome. It refers to the way a performance, gesture, or technique presents itself to an observer, shaping judgments about skill, authenticity, or intention independent of the result.

Coined from manner and appearing, the term is used to discuss how observers attribute meaning based on presentation rather than consequence. In analyses of action perception, mannerappearing highlights factors such as movement quality, timing, gesture clarity, and stylistic features.

Applications span performance studies, sports coaching, and social perception, where audiences may value the manner of execution as a signal of competence or ethos.

Examples include a pianist whose relaxed tempo and touch convey ease, or a craftsperson whose careful handwork communicates care and expertise.

Relation to related concepts: it intersects with expressive meaning, phenomenology of perception, and debates about the importance of means versus ends in evaluating actions. Critics argue that the notion risks vague interpretation unless tied to clear theoretical or empirical criteria.

See also: expressive meaning; phenomenology; perception; performance studies.