Metaphysics of Color

This Element offers an opinionated and selective introduction to philosophical issues concerning the metaphysics of color. The opinion defended is that colors are objective features of our world; objects are colored, and they have those colors independent of how they are experienced. It is a minority opinion. Many philosophers thinking about color experience argue that perceptual variation, the fact that color experiences vary from observer to observer and from viewing condition to viewing condition, makes objectivism untenable. Many philosophers thinking about colors and science argue that colors are ontologically unnecessary; nothing to be explained requires an appeal to colors. A careful look at arguments from perceptual variation shows that those arguments are not compelling, and especially once it is clear how to individuate colors. Moreover, a careful look at scientific explanations shows that colors are explanatorily essential. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

List of contents

1. Into the Rabbit hole: why colors seem so challenging; 2. A brief history of the problem and possible solutions; 3. Out of the Rabbit hole; 4. Reweaving the rainbow; 5. Realism in the Metaphysics of Science; 6. Conclusion; References.

Summary

This Element discusses philosophical issues surrounding color metaphysics, arguing that colors are objective features of our world, independent of our experiences. It challenges, that perceptual variation makes objectivism untenable and that colors are ontologically unnecessary. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Foreword

This Element shows objects are colored just as we see them to be and in ways that we do not.

Product details

• Authors: Elay Shech, Michael Watkins, Michael (Auburn University) Shech Watkins
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.04.2025
• EAN: 9781009324243
• ISBN: 978-1-0-0932424-3
• No. of pages: 84
• Series: Elements in Metaphysics
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Art > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, Philosophy of Science, Art techniques & principles, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge, Colours and colour theory