Reality that isn’t

Red and Green

Light is an electromagnetic wave. What we perceive as colors is induced by a parameter of this wave — it’s wavelength. But the spectrum of light (of wavelengths) in objective reality is not chopped into segments (colors) but is linear. This division into segments (colors) doesn’t exist until it is constructed by our body and doesn’t exist as objective physical phenomenon independently of our perception of it.

To appreciate the scope of this alteration let’s have a look at an elastic ruler:

Ruler

And then let’s stretch this elastic ruler by 32%. This is the result:

Ruler stretched by 32%

It’s stretched but we still perceive it as the same kind of object namely a ruler in a very similar way. Let’s look how we perceive electromagnetic wave with a wavelength of about 530 nanometers:

electromagnetic wave, wavelength 530 nanometers (green light)

Now, let’s stretch this wave a little and look again:

electromagnetic wave, wavelength 700 nanometers (green light stretched by 32%)

We can easily see that the same kind of objective reality phenomenon induced apparently totally different experience. It doesn’t seem to be a little alteration of previous object. What we perceive is a different kind of experience that suggests that it reflects different kind of physical phenomenon in objective reality and not the same kind with small alteration.

Therefore we confirm that despite the fact of objective reality that the spectrum of light (of wavelengths) is not chopped into segments (colors), we construct artificial distinct categories (colors) and that distinction doesn’t exist as physical phenomenon in objective reality independently of our perception of it. We can conclude:

b) Mental perception of single objective physical phenomenon with linear physical parameter may be subjectively interpreted as multiple objective phenomena of different kinds with linear physical parameters.

Black

Black is not a color strictly speaking. What I mean is that what we perceive as black is the absence of light (or its very low intensity). It’s a different thing and yet we perceive it like other colors suggesting that it’s of the same kind - that it is a perception that reflects actual objective physical phenomenon of the same kind as other colors. This mental perception may make us believe that it may be a light with a wavelength within some other range than other colors. But in fact it reflects the absence of phenomena of light wave in objective reality.

electromagnetic wave that isn’t (or almost isn’t)

That is why physicists don’t try to find a wavelength of black light.

c) Mental perception of lack of phenomenon may be subjectively interpreted as objectively happening phenomenon.

Dualism

By dualism we mean “the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided”. Let’s have a look at the “Spinning Dancer” illusion that will help us make the leap:

Spinning Dancer by Nobuyuki Kayahara

Does the dancer move clockwise (left) or counter-clockwise (right)? Please analyze the animation and try to notice the switch of direction. One technique is to focus on the dancer, then look simultaneously at the text and peripherally at the dancer and again only at the dancer. Please try as long as necessary until you notice how the direction “switches” (a few unlucky people may not be able to experience that). Try different methods. This is crucial that you experience it for cognitive understanding of the topic.

Our subjective perception of “Spinning Dancer” is that it moves EITHER clockwise or counter-clockwise but in objective reality both directions are indistinguishable. The animation does not change when you perceive that it ‘switches’ or appears to be rotating in another direction.

Clockwise and counter-clockwise directions are indistinguishable in objective reality yet subjectively we perceive that the dancer is moving in very specific direction and we ‘choose’ the direction ‘arbitrarily’. Therefore we can conclude that: