Your language defines your perception of reality

[Guest]

dup

[_Morley]

...(snip)...couldn't even see the color blue.

does this conclude with the color blue did not exist at that time?

How would it? I'm not sure what you're even asking here. Just because I'm colorblind doesn't mean colors don't exist.

[_Morley]

As an aside, I'm not sure Jaynes' work is viewed that favorably, these days.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

I guess whether or not Subgenius ever checks Google before he embarrases himself again and again and again has just been answered:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rare+co ... e&ie=UTF-8

- Doc

I can't find a big enough facepalm meme for your post. Maybe read upthread first.
and then for giggle, go outside .go for a walk..and tell me when you don't see anything blue.

All you had to do was literally click on the link. I'm genuinely surprised you haven't swallowed your own tongue, yet. You've probably reproduced, too.

“F”.

- Doc

[_huckelberry]

One word: chartreuse.

an obscure comment.

Honorentheos, I could proceed to argue against my post.
Color is not a subjective distinction it is a scientifically measurable difference. A prism shows the colors to be different specific wavelengths. On the other hand light reflecting off a blue tarp is not all blue light. It will be light of all colors but the proportion of blue lightwaves has been increased considerably from normal by the tarp absorbing more of the other colors and reflecting more blue. Sorry to go over this basic but it does remind me that when we see a colored object our mind is making a categorical assessment of the mix of light waves being reflected from that area of our field of vision. That is of course why we see such a broad range of variations in color not just yellow green blue etc. Because it is an assessment our mind makes the relationship to colors around what ever color is in question influence our color perception. There also could be at least a bit of area wherein culture might sneak in to color the minds decision.

[_Doctor Steuss]

On the conversation of color, there have been a few studies on the Himbas of Namibia -- they were also featured in a BBC documentary many moons ago.

Link to a blog post summary.

Because of the ways in which their colours are categorised, it influences the way Himba’s perceive the colours. During the research, the group of Himbas who were tested were given a collection of twelve coloured tiles – eleven were the same colour and one different – arranged in a circle, and asked to choose the one that looked different to the others. The initial tests were conducted using eleven tiles of one shade of green and one tile slightly lighter or darker. To western eyes the difference would take a while to notice, however the Himba’s were able to quickly pick out the different shade of green.

Following this, they did a similar test, but the circle then consisted of eleven green tiles and one blue tile. It took the Himbas a longer period of time to find the difference between the blue and the green. The reason for this is that the Himba language has more terms describing different shades of green, where blue and green is grouped together under the same term. This phenomenon makes it harder for the Himbas to differentiate between the colours that we deem completely different from one another. The findings supported the claim that language can in fact affect the way in which you see colour.

I remember watching the BBC documentary, and being blown away as the Himba members were able to spot the green tile that was different, almost without any hesitation. I paused the TV, and stared, and stared, and couldn't see any difference at all. Then they brought out the blue tile... and I felt good about myself again.

[_Doctor Steuss]

I remember watching the BBC documentary, and being blown away as the Himba members were able to spot the green tile that was different, almost without any hesitation. I paused the TV, and stared, and stared, and couldn't see any difference at all. Then they brought out the blue tile... and I felt good about myself again.

Found the relevant segment from the documentary. 5:20-ish has the green/blue test. I still can't see the damned difference in the green wheel.

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

That's interesting. It's almost as if they categorize colors by hues rather than pigment.

- Doc

[_Kittens_and_Jesus]

Did anyone else notice that Sub included purple fruits and veggies in his post? Eggplants and plums? He should find someone to proof read his posts...

Anyways, I'm glad someone mentioned the Radiolab episode. It was exactly what I had in mind when I made my post.

[_Morley]

Thank you, Steuss.