Senses and hidden properties of matter

Is the mind the same as the body? What is consciousness? Can machines have it?

Moderators: AMod, iMod

Post Reply
User avatar
bahman
Posts: 8791
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:52 pm

Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by bahman »

We all experience different sorts of things with our senses. Think of vision for a moment. Light hits the retina. The retina then sends a signal to the brain. There is a process in the brain. And we eventually recognize different colors, shapes, etc. But how are all these done given the fact that light does not have any color or shape? Well, there are two steps in inverting a signal, from an eye for example to color or shape. First pattern recognition and then creating the appropriate Qualia for mind to experience the subject. Pattern recognition can be done by the process in the brain which is basically due to the exchange of electromagnetic pulses. But electromagnetic pulses in the brain are nothing but light which has no color or shape as well. Matter as a side note has some properties such as mass, and charge, for example. To the best of our knowledge, mass, and charge cannot produce redness. The question is how could we possibly experience redness if the matter cannot cause redness given the properties such as mass, charge, etc.? The only solution is that matter has some hidden properties in which given a specific configuration of matter those hidden properties can be arranged such that the redness as Qualia can be manifested.
User avatar
Agent Smith
Posts: 1442
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:23 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Agent Smith »

How can individual water molecules be colorless and snow white?
User avatar
bahman
Posts: 8791
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:52 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by bahman »

Agent Smith wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 5:21 am How can individual water molecules be colorless and snow white?
The fact that snow is white implement that snow reflects all spectrums. Wood for example looks brownish. That is because wood absorbs all spectrum but brown.
User avatar
Agent Smith
Posts: 1442
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:23 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Agent Smith »

bahman wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 1:27 pm
Agent Smith wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 5:21 am How can individual water molecules be colorless and snow white?
The fact that snow is white implement that snow reflects all spectrums. Wood for example looks brownish. That is because wood absorbs all spectrum but brown.
Ok! Does the same logic apply to your question?
User avatar
bahman
Posts: 8791
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:52 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by bahman »

Agent Smith wrote: Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:17 am
bahman wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 1:27 pm
Agent Smith wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 5:21 am How can individual water molecules be colorless and snow white?
The fact that snow is white implement that snow reflects all spectrums. Wood for example looks brownish. That is because wood absorbs all spectrum but brown.
Ok! Does the same logic apply to your question?
Which question?
User avatar
Agent Smith
Posts: 1442
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:23 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Agent Smith »

bahman wrote: Mon Mar 06, 2023 4:01 pm
Agent Smith wrote: Mon Mar 06, 2023 1:17 am
bahman wrote: Sun Mar 05, 2023 1:27 pm
The fact that snow is white implement that snow reflects all spectrums. Wood for example looks brownish. That is because wood absorbs all spectrum but brown.
Ok! Does the same logic apply to your question?
Which question?
:mrgreen: Apologies, I seem to have made a blunder.
Impenitent
Posts: 4305
Joined: Wed Feb 10, 2010 2:04 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Impenitent »

light waves don't look like hands

-Imp
User avatar
Agent Smith
Posts: 1442
Joined: Fri Aug 12, 2022 12:23 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Agent Smith »

Impenitent wrote: Mon Mar 06, 2023 11:03 pm light waves don't look like hands

-Imp
:mrgreen:
lorenzosleakes
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2023 9:25 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by lorenzosleakes »

bahman wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:14 pm The only solution is that matter has some hidden properties in which given a specific configuration of matter those hidden properties can be arranged such that the redness as Qualia can be manifested.
Yes. I have speculated as to what those configurations of matter may look like in the following paper: https://philpapers.org/rec/SLESTU
User avatar
bahman
Posts: 8791
Joined: Fri Aug 05, 2016 3:52 pm

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by bahman »

lorenzosleakes wrote: Sun Apr 16, 2023 10:28 pm
bahman wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:14 pm The only solution is that matter has some hidden properties in which given a specific configuration of matter those hidden properties can be arranged such that the redness as Qualia can be manifested.
Yes. I have speculated as to what those configurations of matter may look like in the following paper: https://philpapers.org/rec/SLESTU
Oh, interesting manuscript!
Nickolasgaspar
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Apr 27, 2023 9:32 am

Re: Senses and hidden properties of matter

Post by Nickolasgaspar »

bahman wrote: Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:14 pm We all experience different sorts of things with our senses. Think of vision for a moment. Light hits the retina. The retina then sends a signal to the brain. There is a process in the brain. And we eventually recognize different colors, shapes, etc. But how are all these done given the fact that light does not have any color or shape? Well, there are two steps in inverting a signal, from an eye for example to color or shape. First pattern recognition and then creating the appropriate Qualia for mind to experience the subject. Pattern recognition can be done by the process in the brain which is basically due to the exchange of electromagnetic pulses. But electromagnetic pulses in the brain are nothing but light which has no color or shape as well. Matter as a side note has some properties such as mass, and charge, for example. To the best of our knowledge, mass, and charge cannot produce redness. The question is how could we possibly experience redness if the matter cannot cause redness given the properties such as mass, charge, etc.? The only solution is that matter has some hidden properties in which given a specific configuration of matter those hidden properties can be arranged such that the redness as Qualia can be manifested.
This is a scientific question. (Why humans perceive colors). This is because Matter has many more properties than mass and charge and they are not "hidden". Most of them are emergent meaning that they manifest due to structure and function. (chemical, biological etc). In the case of ''redness" our ability to perceive colors is nothing more than our brains' effort to interpret the energy carried by specific wavelengths of light. The energy of the photon reaching our eyes is "shaped" by the properties of the surface reflecting the particle.
The "why" is answered by Evolution. It turns out that Hominidae with the ability to perceive the reddish tint of tender leaves or the colorful fur of a predator hiding behind the bushes improves the chances of survival.
Those properties are known to us. Different molecules interact differently with light particles (absorb part of their energy). This is why we have light that can change your tv channel and light that can burn your meal. Different molecules absorb different wavelengths or the size of the wavelength it self affects the way it is scattered.
Post Reply