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Originally Posted by Richard J. Hanak
[Snip!] Celestial Mechanic wrote:
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Originally Posted by Celestial Mechanic
Richard J. Hanak wrote:
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Originally Posted by Richard J. Hanak
[Snip!]Sensory organs cannot be fooled.
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Utter and complete nonsense. You should know better. There are countless examples of optical and aural illusions. |
But it is not the sense organs that are being fooled or deceived. Touch a hot stone and your touch sensors do not send your brain signals that you are touching cold water. Look at the night sky and your sight sensors do not send the signals of dark spots on a light background. Sniff some chlorine gas and your smell sensors do not send the signals of roses. If you touch something the touch sensors do not send the signals of a musical tone. If you sniff a very weak concentration of hydrogen sulfide in air your smell sensors do not send the signals of a strong concentration of that gas.
Sensors only respond to stimuli; they do not interpret or misinterpret stimuli. Illusions do not occur at the sensor level. Illusions occur because the mind misinterprets some of the information content of sensor signals.[Snip!] |
I see, our sensory organs are models of perfection that have the misfortune to be wired to such imperfect brains as mine and, dare I say it?,
Richard J. Hanak's that constantly misinterpret these pristine sensory inputs. But wait a minute!
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Originally Posted by Richard J. Hanak also
In the example you gave, when the eyes are closed it is no longer the sun you observe, but an afterimage that persists after the stimulus that caused it is no longer operative. There is a lot of neurochemistry involved in the act of seeing. Chemicals formed in the act of seeing must be bleached in order for a new image to be perceived. Time is required for that bleaching process. The effects of those chemicals persist until they are sufficiently bleached.
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And there is also considerable neurochemistry involved in the other senses as well. So the sensory organs are not truly perfect and can be fooled after all.
Of course, some might despair of our ability to know anything at all given the rampant imperfection of our sensory organs. Well, philosophers might.
But sensible people acquire training through experience in the limitations and imperfections of their sensory organs. Ultimately we are able to compensate for these imperfections and move on.