Colour constancy as counterfactual.

In this paper I argue that two standard characterizations of colour constancy are inadequate to the phenomenon. This inadequacy matters, since, I contend, philosophical appeals to colour constancy as a way of motivating illumination-independent conceptions of colour turn crucially on the shortcoming...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Australasian Journal of Philosophy Vol. 86; no. 1; pp. 61 - 93
Autor principal: Cohen, Jonathan
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Mar2008
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:In this paper I argue that two standard characterizations of colour constancy are inadequate to the phenomenon. This inadequacy matters, since, I contend, philosophical appeals to colour constancy as a way of motivating illumination-independent conceptions of colour turn crucially on the shortcomings of these characterizations. After critically reviewing the standard characterizations, I provide a novel counterfactualist understanding of colour constancy, argue that it avoids difficulties of its traditional rivals, and defend it from objections. Finally, I show why, on this improved understanding, colour constancy does not have the philosophical consequences that have been claimed for it in the literature.