Philosophy 100, Fall 2006					

Color Handout 1




Color Eliminativism: Nothing (outside the mind) is colored.

Color Realism: Some things are colored.



The Wavelength Theory (WT):

	*	The property of being red is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 625-740 nm.
		
	*	The property of being orange is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 590-625 nm.
		
	*	The property of being yellow is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 565-590 nm.

	* 	etc.
	
	
	
The "dark room" argument against (WT):

	1.	Ripe tomatoes are red when all the lights are turned off.

	2.	If (WT) is true, then ripe tomatoes are not red when 
		all the lights are turned off.

	3.	Therefore, (WT) is false.



The "red light" argument against (WT):

	1.	The screen was not red a minute ago.

	2.	If (WT) is true, then the screen was red a minute ago.

	3. 	Therefore, (WT) is false.
	
	
	
The Revised Wavelength Theory (RWT):

	*	The property of being red is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 625-740 nm in standard conditions.
		
	*	The property of being orange is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 590-625 nm in standard conditions.
		
	*	The property of being yellow is the property of emitting light with 
		wavelength 565-590 nm in standard conditions.

	* 	etc.
	
	
Definition:

Objects A and B are a metameric pair (under kind of light K) =df. A and B reflect different wavelengths of light but appear to have the same color under K.



An Argument Against (RWT) based on the existence of metamers:

	1.	An object emitting light of wavelengths 540nm and 670nm is yellow.

	2.	If (RWT) is true, then an object emitting light of wavelengths 540nm and 
		670nm is not yellow.

	3.	Therefore, (RWT) is false.
	
	
	
The first argument against (RWT) based on simultaneous contrast:

	1.	The left side of the grey band and the right side of the grey band are 
		not the same color.
	
	2.	If (RWT) is true, then the left side of the grey band and the right side 
		of the grey band are the same color.

	3.	Therefore, (RWT) is false.
	
	
	
The second argument against (RWT) based on simultaneous contrast:

	1.	If (RWT) is true, then nothing is brown or black.

	2.	Some things are brown or black.

	3.	Therefore, (RWT) is false.
	
	
	
Definition:

X is disposed to look C to normal observers in standard conditions =df. If a normal observer were to see X under standard conditions, X would look C.
	


The Dispositional Theory of Color (DT):
	
	*	The property of being red is the property of being disposed to look red 
		to normal observers in standard conditions.

	*	The property of being orange is the property of being disposed to look 
		orange to normal observers in standard conditions.

	*	The property of being yellow is the property of being disposed to look 
		yellow to normal observers in standard conditions.

	*	etc.