The question of whether we all perceive colors the same way has fascinated philosophers, scientists and thinkers for centuries. Specifically, the notion that your perception of the color red may be completely different from mine, even though we both call it “red”, is known as the Is My red Your red Theory. This theory raises profound questions about the subjective nature of reality and our inability to get inside another person’s mind. In this article, we will explore the history of this theory, the evidence for and against it, and the philosophical implications if it were true.
History of the Theory
The idea that colors may appear differently to different people was proposed as early as the 17th century by philosophers such as Descartes and Locke. They suggested that qualities like color, smell, taste etc are not inherent properties of objects, but are constructed in our minds. So an object itself has no color, the color is something our mind assigns to it.
This view was controversial at the time, but gained more traction in the 18th and 19th century with theories of subjectivism and idealism. The philosopher George Berkeley argued in his work “An Essay Towards a New Theory of Vision” that color depends on visual perception of an object, not the object itself. The way we perceive secondary qualities like color can vary between people.
In the 20th century, the idea was perhaps most famously articulated in a thought experiment by philosopher John Locke: “Does the color red appear the same to you as it does to me?” This question highlights gaps in our knowledge created by the subjectivity of experience. We have no way of stepping outside our own minds to compare if your red is the same as mine.
Scientific Evidence
So what scientific evidence is there for or against this theory? There are a few interesting areas of research:
Differences in Color Vision
We know that some people are color blind, meaning they cannot distinguish certain colors that others can. Color blindness is usually due to defects in the cone cells of the retina that detect color. This suggests our perception of color is not universal but depends on our biology. Women, for instance, are sometimes able to distinguish more shades of red than men.
Cultural Differences
Studies show people from different cultures perceive colors slightly differently. For example, Japanese people are more likely to see green and blue as shades of the same color, whereas English speakers distinguish them as separate colors with different names. This suggests that language and culture can shape our color categories.
Problem of Inverted Qualia
Thought experiments like inverted qualia imagine a scenario where you and I both call grass “green”, but your perception of green is how I would perceive red, and vice versa. We both use the word “green” correctly, but our subjective experiences are inverted. If true, this would mean we can never truly compare subjective states.
Communication About Color
If colors appeared drastically differently to people, it might be harder to communicate consistently using color terms. But most people are able to meaningfully refer to colors in language, suggesting we share some approximate perceptual experience of color.
Philosophical Implications
If the Is My red Your red theory is true, what would it imply about the nature of reality and our knowledge of the world? Here are some of the philosophical puzzles it raises:
The Subjective Nature of Experience
If colors are not objective properties but subjective experiences, what other aspects of reality might also be mind-dependent? It underscores that our perception of reality is shaped by the quirks and limitations of our cognition.
The Problem of Other Minds
We can never access someone else’s subjective experience of color or anything else. This highlights the barrier between our own first-person experience and the experiences we attribute to others. Their inner world is unknowable.
Language and Meaning
If colors appear different, how do color words like “red” or “green” meaningfully refer to anything? The theory raises questions about language, meaning and shared understanding.
Skepticism About Scientific Knowledge
If subjective experience varies, it may call into question the scientific enterprise of seeking objective universal truths. Our theories about the world are constrained by our human perceptual faculties.
Interpersonal Isolation
The theory emphasizes the gulf between ourselves and others. We are forever trapped inside our own heads. Our experiences are unshareable and we are ultimately alone.
Arguments Against the Theory
However, there are also some good reasons to be skeptical of an extreme version of Is My red Your red Theory:
Similar Biology
Our eyes and visual systems are structurally similar, so there are constraints on how differently color can be perceived. Large divergence is unlikely.
Learned Color Categories
Our color discrimination is learned through exposure to color terms, so perceptions are shaped by a common linguistic and cultural context.
Memory and Communication
We are able to remember and communicate about colors in stable, consistent ways, suggesting shared perception.
Objective Measurement
Colors can be objectively measured using spectrophotometry, matching specific wavelength and frequencies. This measures more than subjective perception.
Evolutionary Adaptation
Our color vision evolved to track objects and differences useful for survival, not arbitrary hallucinations, suggesting commonalities in perception across people.
Conclusion
The Is My red Your red theory raises fascinating questions about the nature of subjective experience and our access to reality. While thought-provoking, an extreme view that color experience radically differs between people is probably implausible given constraints from biology, culture and language. But the theory still underscores important philosophical issues about the limitations and quirks of human perception and cognition when it comes to constructing our worldviews. Some variance between people is likely, but we should not overstate the isolation of subjective experience. By communicating through language and other shared practices, we can find common ground between our inner worlds.
| Pros of Theory | Cons of Theory |
|---|---|
| Highlights subjectivity of experience | Unlikely to be extreme divergence |
| Explains cultural differences | Shared biological constraints |
| Thought experiments like inverted qualia | Learned color categories |
| Skepticism about scientific objectivity | We can communicate consistently about colors |
