Reflection on the Human Perception (unfettered thoughts)

The Subjectivity and Limits of Human Experience:

Colour:

According to Wikipedia Visual Perception or Sight is as follows:

“Visual perception is the ability to interpret the surrounding environment by processing information that is contained in visible light. The resulting perception is also known as eyesight, sight, or vision. "

Colours are what humans observe due to varying quantities of light power versus wavelength in the narrow section of the electro-magnetic spectrum known as 'visible light'. From a very young age we are taught to differentiate between different wavelengths of light, to tell what is 'red' from what is 'green' and so on. Over time we learn that the grass is green, the sky is blue and wood is 'brown', and we grow older thinking that everyone perceives colour in the same way we do.

However this notion may be far from the truth. To think that what you perceive as 'red' is what someone else would see as 'purple', 'blue' or even 'yellow' is somewhat unsettling. Our perception of colours may well be entirely subjective. The visual cortex of the brain, the region whose purpose is to decode the signals from the eyes, 'sees' by being able to tell the difference between colours. It learns to tell the difference between what one may call red and blue, but what it cannot do is define what red and blue should be. There is in fact no fundamental definition for what 'blue' is, nor is there a way to even begin defining what it means to an individual. Now here's where the physicists will say, "but we do have a fundamental definition of 'blue'; Blue is electromagnetic radiation of the approximate wavelength 470nm". Yes, 470nm is the wavelength of light which enters all our eyes when we look at the sky, but what our brain decodes that colour as being is entirely relative. The distinction is this: We all see the same blue, but we do not all perceive the same blue. 

The next question which I considered was: why can’t we tell if someone is seeing a different color? 

Trying to see if someone is seeing the same color as you is fundamentally impossible, at least with today's technology. The reason discussions like this don't come up in normal conversation is that our minds have grown to accept the way we see and adapt to it. Suppose you and your friend are looking at a good color combination, even if, suppose, you both see a different set of colors you both will find it appealing, this is because you have grown to accept that color combination as good. This is because to your mind the combination of 'crimson and dark grey' has always been appealing, whereas if someone could peer into your mind and perceive the colors the way you do he may not find the color combination appealing because to him the colors crimson and grey appear very different in his mind. I also realize that sight itself may also be a different experience for everyone. Imagine that someone else sees colours the way you feel textures, it is hard to even think along those lines. 

I have done a fair amount of research into this matter however I realize my knowledge may be incomplete. I am open to discussion at tuniomurtaza@gmail.com

Limits of Perception:

Let's begin with a simple game: think of a random number. Got one? You may be surprised to learn that the number you have chosen is wrong! Confused? You see the problem with your guess is that it was not truly random at all; in fact no matter how many times you try you would fail. The mind simply isn't suited to randomness, it is fundamentally designed to find patterns in things, draw connections and make hypotheses. Our mind cannot think of anything which is truly random. Even when looking at seemingly random patterns our mind will find shapes, letters and even faces. 

'The face on mars'

 A classic example of the minds strong proclivity to finding patters.

Just a hilarious quote from one of my favorite books which I thought was relevant enough to include:

"I gave a speech once," he said suddenly and apparently unconnectedly. “You may not instantly see why I bring the subject up, but that is because my mind works so phenomenally fast, and I am at a rough estimate thirty billion times more intelligent than you. Let me give you an example. Think of a number, any number.”

“Er, five,” said the mattress.

“Wrong,” said Marvin. “You see?”

―   Douglas Adams, Life, the Universe, and Everything

Now back to the discussion:

Our minds are incapable of perceiving or thinking of certain things. This I believe may be largely due to the fact that our mind is suited to dealing with everyday life; we simply don't have the need to be able to envision a 6-dimensional hypercube or to be able to generate random number sequences. This thought has led me truly appreciate great scientists like Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking for their ability to think about and formulate theories based on phenomenon which we cannot even begin to imagine. I believe that true genius is breaking the bounds of perception; being able to consider possibilities which may never occur to ordinary individual. Not the ability to think outside the box, but the ability not have a box to begin with.

UPDATE (1/22/2013): I recently found a TED talk by Richard Dawkins related to my idea here, his ideas are very similar to my own. http://www.ted.com/talks/richard_dawkins_on_our_queer_universe.html

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I really did not intend to end this discussion so abruptly and digress so much but sometimes I need to put my thoughts on paper and sort them out later. (I'll add more to this later)

-Murtaza Tunio