Understanding Color: The Intersection of Perception and Reality
Written on
Chapter 1: The Philosophical Fascination with Color
When I inquired about the enthusiasm philosophers exhibit toward color, Mazviita Chirimuuta responded with a knowing smile, as if she understood the implied critique of philosophy's tendency to overcomplicate matters. She articulated her thoughts eloquently: "Philosophers delve into the study of color because our senses shape our understanding of reality. This raises questions about whether our knowledge is inherently subjective, and if so, whether that is problematic. At the core of the color debate lies a broader inquiry into the essence of knowledge itself, as mediated through our sensory experiences."
Since the 1600s, thinkers and scientists have been dissecting the concept of color. Newton famously explored color by experimenting with light and its wavelengths, while modern physicists have clarified that color arises from the interaction of light wavelengths and surface reflections. Moreover, physiologists have explained how the unique structures in our eyes and brains allow us to perceive colors like blue or red. In her recent work, Outside Color, Chirimuuta argues that color should be understood not merely as a property of the external world or our internal perceptions, but as a dynamic interplay between the two.
Chirimuuta, 37, serves as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science. Her fascination with the subjectivity of color dates back to her childhood, where she pondered profound questions about the true color of the ground. Growing up in England, she was encouraged in her scientific curiosity by her mother, an ophthalmologist, while her father hailed from Zimbabwe. A pivotal moment in her intellectual journey came when she read Oliver Sacks's The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, where she was struck by the unpredictable ways people's realities could be altered.
Our conversation took place within the University of Pittsburgh's majestic Cathedral of Learning. Chirimuuta, who specializes in both philosophy and neuroscience, initially found herself unsure about communicating with a general science audience. When I assured her that authenticity would serve her best, she comfortably articulated her ideas without succumbing to jargon.
Section 1.1: The Physics of Color
Often, people assume that from a physics standpoint, color is simply a function of light wavelengths. Newton's spectrum illustrates this well; when white light is dispersed, it reveals a rainbow, with each color corresponding to a specific wavelength. However, the reality is more complex.
In fact, the wavelengths reflected by objects perceived as red or blue aren't fixed. Context plays a crucial role—due to phenomena like color constancy, the same wavelength can appear as different colors based on surrounding light conditions. Thus, our visual system constantly interprets the environment, affecting our color perception.
Subsection 1.1.1: The Neurobiology of Color
Individuals with typical color vision possess three types of cone receptors in their retinas. These cones, which function under bright light conditions, differ in their sensitivity to various wavelengths, providing the initial input for color perception.
However, there's no direct correlation between the activation of a specific cone and the perception of a color; rather, it depends on the interplay of signals from all cones and how the brain contextualizes these signals within the scene.
Section 1.2: Outer vs. Inner Perspectives
Philosophical traditions often draw a stark line between the "outer" (objective reality) and the "inner" (subjective experience). This dichotomy traces back to the 17th century, when scientific thought began distinguishing between objective phenomena and subjective human experience.
René Descartes famously posited mind-brain dualism, suggesting that the mind is a separate entity from the material world. This framework complicates the understanding of color, as subjective experiences—often perceived as inferior to objective knowledge—remain difficult to reconcile within a purely scientific discourse.
Chapter 2: A New Perspective on Color
In her talk, "Three Obstacles to Reimagining Beauty in Society," Mazviita Chirimuuta explores how our perceptions of beauty and color are shaped by cultural contexts and subjective experiences.
The traditional debate surrounding color typically positions it as either an intrinsic property of objects or a mere illusion. Chirimuuta proposes an alternative perspective: viewing color as a characteristic of the interactions between perceivers and objects. This idea, which she refers to as "color adverbialism," posits that color arises from the perceptual processes occurring in our interactions with the environment.
In her second presentation, "BI 186 Mazviita Chirimuuta: The Brain Abstracted," she delves into the neuroscience behind color perception, discussing the unique ways our brains process visual information and how this relates to our understanding of reality.
Ultimately, Chirimuuta's work challenges us to rethink how we conceptualize color, pushing the boundaries of both philosophical inquiry and scientific understanding.