What is colour?

For all things philosophical.

Moderators: AMod, iMod

Post Reply
Blaggard
Posts: 2245
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2014 9:17 pm

What is colour?

Post by Blaggard »

There doesn't really need to be a long argument about qualia added or a perception rationale or anything like that, as we are already all I suspect well aware of the subject, but suffice to say I'll post a definition.

the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light.

that should be sufficiently irritating I know how much philosophers hate dictionary definitions, and no that does not mean this is a troll before the usual suspects and white knights ride in lance at the ready, it was just a wry joke.

So what is colour..?
thedoc
Posts: 6465
Joined: Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:18 pm

Re: What is colour?

Post by thedoc »

Blaggard wrote: So what is colour..?
The eye/mind's response to each particular wave length of light, as reflected form an object, or emitted from a light source.
User avatar
Arising_uk
Posts: 12259
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:31 am

Re: What is colour?

Post by Arising_uk »

The phenomenological representation produced by a body with senses of the interaction between light and matter.
User avatar
SpheresOfBalance
Posts: 5725
Joined: Sat Sep 10, 2011 4:27 pm
Location: On a Star Dust Metamorphosis

Re: What is colour?

Post by SpheresOfBalance »

It's the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, as reflected from any particular ever varying surface, that, some life on earth developed the ability to sense, so as to differentiate substances, an important capability for it's survival.
Ginkgo
Posts: 2657
Joined: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:47 pm

Re: What is colour?

Post by Ginkgo »

There are all good scientific explanations for color, but unfortunately we cannot avoid the philosophical implications of having to experience color. It is difficult not to ask Mary if she has discovered anything new by experiencing color.


www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knowledge_argument
Post Reply