Understanding color vision, with comments on mind and matter

Abstract

Much is known about the mental and physical aspects of color vision. Color vision, therefore, is a paradigm well suited for the discussion of the relationship between mind and matter. The aim of the present chapter is to support the proposition that mental affairs cannot be adequately understood if their neurobiological aspects are neglected. Although it is possible to focus on fundamental problems of general relevance when discussing mind and matter, this chapter will deal with specific observations rather than general issues. The possibility of generalizations derived from empirical results is always limited. Provided the conditions under which these observations were made can be confirmed, specific results are reliable. The relationship of mind and matter often comes under the headline ‘mindbody’ or ‘mind-brain-problem’ to facilitate the discussion of general aspects. With regard to perception, a critical early step is the transduction of the stimuli to sensory excitation. Subsequently, the term ‘matter’ will be subdivided here into ‘physics of the stimuli’ on the one hand, and ‘eye and brain,’ on the other. This will help to clarify why the transition from the physical aspects of color vision to the mental domain of color is possible, whereas subjective color sensations cannot be traced back to their physical causes.