Dear Patient Reader,
Pink and white or grey and green? I unapologetically see a grey and green shoe. What do you see? Colour perception can be different to each of us, which also means that we see the world differently. This difference is caused by the commonly held belief that we each have a dominant right or left brain. No, your brain is not heavier on one side, it’s much more than that.
In early 2015, a white and gold (or blue and black) dress went viral, causing a similar debate. If you see grey and green in the picture, it means that you are left-brain dominant (analytical and rational). If you are seeing pink and white you are right-brain dominant (creative and emotional). However, neuroscience hasn’t proven this belief. Scientific evidence has proven that we use both brain hemispheres for specialised functions (McPhillips, 2019). But, it is still fun to argue about this colour-shifting trickery.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Enlightenment philosophy developed in Europe. This period attributes itself to an immense leap in the modes of thinking about Western philosophy. This is a period from where we hear about Descartes and Immanuel Kant. Modes of thinking were different, and divided into rationalism and empiricism.
The Age of Enlightenment was made up of epistemological ideas and an important quest for understanding the truth. Epistemology is the study or theory of knowledge. To draw conclusions, we need epistemology to understand the truth. But was is the truth? To draw their own conclusions these two schools of philosophical thought approach this question through a set of principles. Rationalism bases itself on knowledge or ‘truths’ that are derived from reason. Empiricism bases itself on knowledge or ‘truths’ derived from sense experience. Sense experience makes use of our senses – sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. But this poses a problem to empiricism. Because we can’t entirely rely on our senses.
A good example for why our sense perception is unreliable is the reason why optical illusions and magic tricks work. It is what we think we see. Our exceptionally complex eyes get fooled by simple optical illusions because our brains have evolved to encounter natural stimuli. Our brain then, acts as the interpreter and translator of the information we receive through our senses. In a way our brain plays tricks on us – jokes on you.
Bibliography
McPhillips, K. (2019, October 14). ICYWW, Left Brain Vs Right Brain Has Nothing to Do With the Color of *That* Viral Shoe. Retrieved from Well + Good: https://www.wellandgood.com/left-brain-vs-right-brain-shoe-color/
Image Source
News, C. (2017, October 13). Viral debate: What colour is the shoe in this photo? Retrieved from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdYUIzqkaTo
Comments