Is Color a Property of the Mind or an Inherent Characteristic of Nature - Essay Sample

Introduction

Theoretical aspects about the perception of color have been argued by scientists as well as philosophers for the past five centuries. Isaac Newton, a great scientist in the sixteenth century, was the first to observe the patterns of light. He first noted that white light through the use of sunlight made up seven colors that we refer to like the colors of the rainbow today and quoted that "if the Sun's Light consisted of but one sort of Rays, there would be but one Color in the whole World..."- (Sir Isaac Newton, Opticks, 1700). His theory was an eye opener for other scientists who came up with disputing theories about color each trying to point out something different from the other. Another famous scientist known as Aristotle contradicted Sir Isaac Newton's method by depicting that black and white were the origin of all colors courtesy of air, water and the earth in general. This was contrary to Isaac's theory that white color was the mother of all colors, and through sunlight rays that also consist of other colors, we can be able to see the rest of the colors visible to our eyes. This, however, did not stop other scientists from coming up with various theories by the observation. Mr. Goethe challenged all the previous arguments arguing that color is just a perception of the viewer not a science like the former scientists had claimed. This according to Goethe is the reason we all view the same colors differently; hence some people are color blind. He further quoted that "Colors are light's suffering and joy," (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1900). His theory highly contributed to the modern science of color with most professionals like artist adapting to his approach. The foundation; of the contemporary science of color was laid here with colors defined in two ways either as addictive or subtractive. Addictive colors are those that are emitted from devices and gadgets such as screens while subtractive colors are those that are as a result of artistic work through drawing and paintings - the colors formed as a result of combining several colors to come up with one major one. Different patterns are used in the mixing of colors. In this discussion, the writer looks into the nature of things in time and space, their characteristics as well as what part they play in terms of color perception in the modern world (Feser & Edward, 2016).

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Nature of Things in Time and Space

Space comprises coordination of factors that exist in the form of length, width, and height. The two basic principles of nature in terms of time and space are light and relativity. In the understanding of the subject about the subject of matter as anything that occupies and has weight; therefore, it is safe to say that the outer space gives the real definition of what matter really stands for in al principalities. Time and space are correlative to each other. It is a form of ideas that human beings possess from one region to another. Time is a huge factor in our lives and covers everything that human does. Scientists in the past have argued that there is no life past time since it is everything we incorporated in (Kagan &Jerome, 2018). Time is a significant factor in nature. Color through the way humans interpret it has a high effect on nature and time. We tend to explain the universe through the way we see it with our eyes or even use of telescopes as well as digital cameras. The world is vast and would take us billions of years to cover it.

Consequently, most things on the outer space are not visible to us, so they only exist in us as a form of imagination. With the scientific nature of light, there is an illusion that the space during the day is blue. However, the explanation behind all this is the fact that the outer space comprises of gases, light, and dust that makes it more illusion than the much-touted blue sky. Sir Isaac Newton attempted to explain how colors formed through the use of sunlight rays propagated through a white prism to create colors (Bruner &Jerome, 2017). This is where the concept of rainbow colors originated. Other scientists further disputed his theory. Different things tend to react in a different way when exposed naturally on nature. Sunlight and white light together form a sequence of colors known as the rainbow an indication that elements respond differently when exposed to the environment. Feser & Edward (2016) States that there are billions of colors in the universe; hence human tendency to judge the appearance of an object over and over as time progresses.

Time plays a crucial role in the way we see and decide things. It is the driving engine of life; it keeps people and things going in the right direction. A child judge colors differently from an adult. Factors such as positioning and lighting factors play a pivotal role in the judgment we make for objects. Every time a person sees something based on the time and factors such as light, we see the objects differently (Bruner &Jerome, 2017). This is hence the reason theories from scientists such as Isaac Newton cannot be disputed. Scientific factors come to effect while judging colors but still the main judgment lies within an individual's mind. We decide and perceive colors based on the situation.

Conclusion

From the above discussion, we can argue that color is both a property of the mind as well as an inherent characteristic of nature. Various scientists have come up with different arguments regarding the two theories with each one having precious points to defend their case. This has made it hard for anyone to dispute any of the theories. Either way, in the modern science of color, Goethe's theory of color has the most distinctive argument a reason why it is applied to date. Color is just a perception of the mind a reason why we interpret color differently even when all factors are constant. Artists have come up with new methods of creating colors artificially disputing the fact that color is just a characteristic of nature. Various philosophers have also come in support for the theories with discoveries such as military camouflage colors that are used to give an impression of the surrounding hence giving the human eye a different perspective about what they are seeing in conclusion, the color defined by the human brain. People interpret color from the way they see it not science.

Works Cited

Bruner, Jerome. A study of thinking. Routledge, 2017.Feser, Edward. "Aquinas." Consciousness and the Great Philosophers. Routledge, 2016. 66-74.Kagan, Jerome. Galen's prophecy: Temperament in human nature. Routledge, 2018.