---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think that we can figure out what…"
description: "\"I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brai..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg"
---

#  I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in…

![“I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brain mechanisms as well. We need to figure out what information is present in the mechanisms that constitute conscious colour perception.” quote by David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg)

> “I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brain mechanisms as well. We need to figure out what information is present in the mechanisms that constitute conscious colour perception.”

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Understanding conscious colour perception requires both introspection and knowledge of neural mechanisms that encode visual information.

**In simple terms:** Both mind and brain must be studied to grasp colour perception.

Key Takeaway

Integrate phenomenology with neuroscience.

Themes

consciousness colour perception neuroscience philosophy

Mood

thoughtful inquisitive academic

Type

philosophical scientific

When to use this quote

- research in vision
- philosophical analysis
- interdisciplinary study

Key Concepts

qualia neural coding visual processing

Questions to Reflect On

- What neural data best explain colour qualia?
- Can introspection be objectively measured?

A Different Perspective

Neuroscience alone may not capture subjective experience.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Brain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/) [Colour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colour/) [Introspection](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/introspection/) [Perception](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perception/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/)

## Related quotes

> [On the methodological issue, I think that would be hopeless to try to adjudicate between my view and orthodoxy by appeal to phenomenological introspection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/on-the-methodological-issue-i-think-that-would-be-hopeless-to-try-to/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [I think my view is rather more radical than Pete Mandik's. Both of us want to show that colour perception doesn't transcend what can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-think-my-view-is-rather-more-radical-than-pete-mandik-s-both-of-us/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [The expectations of theory colour perception to such a degree that new notions seldom arise from facts collected under the influence of old pictures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niles-eldredge/the-expectations-of-theory-colour-perception-to-such-a-degree-that/)

[Niles Eldredge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/niles-eldredge/)

> [I believe there is something going on in a conscious being, which includes many animals, as well as ourselves, that is not a computational…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-penrose/i-believe-there-is-something-going-on-in-a-conscious-being-which/)

[Roger Penrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-penrose/)

> [I will now be very mindful about it, and if I feel like I've been on my phone too much one day, I'm going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-atack/i-will-now-be-very-mindful-about-it-and-if-i-feel-like-i-ve-been-on/)

[Emily Atack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-atack/)

> [A great deal of it is personal. But the persona is, I guess, the out of body experience that takes place. Because I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-great-deal-of-it-is-personal-but-the-persona-is-i-guess-the-out-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Again, when we view a scene fleetingly, do we consciously see all the details even though we don't retain them, or do we not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/again-when-we-view-a-scene-fleetingly-do-we-consciously-see-all-the/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [After all, in supporting phenomenal concepts I am in a sense siding with introspection against the more behaviourist Wittgensteinians. But even so I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/after-all-in-supporting-phenomenal-concepts-i-am-in-a-sense-siding/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [No one seriously doubts Socrates' maxim: The unexamined life isn't worth living. Self-assessment and attempts at self-improvement are essential aspects of "the good life."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-burton/no-one-seriously-doubts-socrates-maxim-the-unexamined-life-isn-t/)

[Robert A. Burton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-burton/)

> [“We must be careful to let the Holy Spirit do this searching. If we try to search our own hearts, we are apt to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/we-must-be-careful-to-let-the-holy-spirit-do-this-searching-if-we-try/)

[Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/)

> [“Would you like yourself, if you met yourself?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/would-you-like-yourself-if-you-met-yourself/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [Introspection is a devouring monster. You have to feed it with much material, much experience, many people, many places, many loves, many creations, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/introspection-is-a-devouring-monster-you-have-to-feed-it-with-much/)

[Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/)

> [“introspection and self-analysis, a creative capacity, an ability to think under adverse circumstances, ethical behavior that assures avoiding acting out in the counter transference,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-f-kernberg/introspection-and-self-analysis-a-creative-capacity-an-ability-to/)

[Otto F. Kernberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-f-kernberg/)

> [“...It often seemed to her that she thought too much about herself, you could have made her blush any day of the year, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-james/it-often-seemed-to-her-that-she-thought-too-much-about-herself-you/)

[Henry James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-james/)

> [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/)

[Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/)

## More by David Papineau

> [Nearly everybody nowadays accepts the 'causal completeness of physics' - every physical event (or at least its probability) has a full physical cause. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/nearly-everybody-nowadays-accepts-the-causal-completeness-of-physics/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [My first degree was in mathematics. That was great, but it didn't help with many of the things that puzzled me. I became a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/my-first-degree-was-in-mathematics-that-was-great-but-it-didn-t-help/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [If there is such a simple argument for physicalism, how come everybody hasn't always been a physicalist? That's a good question, and there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/if-there-is-such-a-simple-argument-for-physicalism-how-come-everybody/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [Kripke says that physicalists like me can't explain the 'apparent contingency' of mind-brain identities. He maintains that, if I really believed that pains are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/kripke-says-that-physicalists-like-me-can-t-explain-the-apparent/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [A certain kind of methodologically-minded philosopher of science is quick to read off metaphysical conclusions from features of scientific practice. Chemists don't derive their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/a-certain-kind-of-methodologically-minded-philosopher-of-science-is/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [I think my view is rather more radical than Pete Mandik's. Both of us want to show that colour perception doesn't transcend what can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-think-my-view-is-rather-more-radical-than-pete-mandik-s-both-of-us/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [On the methodological issue, I think that would be hopeless to try to adjudicate between my view and orthodoxy by appeal to phenomenological introspection.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/on-the-methodological-issue-i-think-that-would-be-hopeless-to-try-to/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [Again, when we view a scene fleetingly, do we consciously see all the details even though we don't retain them, or do we not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/again-when-we-view-a-scene-fleetingly-do-we-consciously-see-all-the/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [Everybody agrees that a future in which you are dead is a very bad thing, and that it isn't made any better by your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/everybody-agrees-that-a-future-in-which-you-are-dead-is-a-very-bad/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [In truth a clear-headed physicalist shouldn't be thinking any of these dualist thoughts. If pains are one and the same as C-fibres firing, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/in-truth-a-clear-headed-physicalist-shouldn-t-be-thinking-any-of/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [The use of neuroscientific data to help resolve phenomenological questions is proving a common theme in much contemporary thinking about the mind. How rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/the-use-of-neuroscientific-data-to-help-resolve-phenomenological/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [Natural selection has ensured that each species achieves the requisite effect somehow, but it doesn't care, so to speak, how the trick is done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/natural-selection-has-ensured-that-each-species-achieves-the/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [I realize that I won't have quite enough time to understand everything - but that hasn't stopped me wanting to understand as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-realize-that-i-won-t-have-quite-enough-time-to-understand/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [Schrödinger's cat has a 50% quantum chance of coming out of the box alive and a 50% quantum chance of coming out dead. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/schr-dinger-s-cat-has-a-50-quantum-chance-of-coming-out-of-the-box/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

> [I favour an interpretation of quantum mechanics (the 'Everett interpretation') according to which reality branches in any chancy quantum situation. On this view, Schrödinger's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-favour-an-interpretation-of-quantum-mechanics-the-everett/)

[David Papineau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

[Explore all 35 David Papineau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/)

## More Brain quotes

> [The brain abhors discrepancies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/the-brain-abhors-discrepancies/)

[Vilayanur S. Ramachandran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayanur-s-ramachandran/)

> [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/)

[Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/)

> [Let me tell you that atheism has never painted a masterpiece. Atheism has never dispelled fear. Atheism has never healed a disease; faith in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hagee/let-me-tell-you-that-atheism-has-never-painted-a-masterpiece-atheism/)

[John Hagee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hagee/)

> [down with ought with because with every brain that thinks it thinks nor dares to feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/down-with-ought-with-because-with-every-brain-that-thinks-it-thinks/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [To explicate the uses of the Brain seems as difficult a task as to paint the Soul, of which it is commonly said, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-willis/to-explicate-the-uses-of-the-brain-seems-as-difficult-a-task-as-to/)

[Thomas Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-willis/)

> [I prefer the word 'musician.' I'm a musician and a composer. I have a problem with the word 'artist.' I don't know if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-prefer-the-word-musician-i-m-a-musician-and-a-composer-i-have-a/)

[Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/)

> [Thinking of sex provides enough mental stimulation to reduce risk of diseases that damage the brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thinking-of-sex-provides-enough-mental-stimulation-to-reduce-risk-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/)

[Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/)

> [The reason I'm drawn to it is - both the off road racing and the motorcycles on the track - it takes a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/the-reason-i-m-drawn-to-it-is-both-the-off-road-racing-and-the/)

[Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/)

> [Without illusions. I love you because you are fallible and because your poor misguided testosterone-corrupted brain has you doing cartwheels trying not to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-gerard/without-illusions-i-love-you-because-you-are-fallible-and-because/)

[Cindy Gerard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-gerard/)

> [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/)

[Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/)

> [I was told I had brain damage. I always knew it was an unfair label. Now I have a clearer understanding of what's wrong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-boyle/i-was-told-i-had-brain-damage-i-always-knew-it-was-an-unfair-label/)

[Susan Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-boyle/)

> [The act of learning to read added an entirely new circuit to our hominid brain's repertoire. The long developmental process of learning to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maryanne-wolf/the-act-of-learning-to-read-added-an-entirely-new-circuit-to-our/)

[Maryanne Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maryanne-wolf/)

> [I can't let fear kill my creative brain. Fear is the killer. Your bad choices come from fear. And I'm constantly combating fear. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-can-t-let-fear-kill-my-creative-brain-fear-is-the-killer-your-bad/)

[Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/)

> [I am the way I am. If you like me because I'm glamorous, so be it. If you like me, because I speak well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malaika-arora-khan/i-am-the-way-i-am-if-you-like-me-because-i-m-glamorous-so-be-it-if/)

[Malaika Arora Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malaika-arora-khan/)

[Browse all 8,465 Brain quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brain/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by phenomenological introspection. We need to know about brain mechanisms as well. We need to figure out what information is present in the mechanisms that constitute conscious colour perception.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David Papineau"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-what-is-going-on-in-conscious/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Brain"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-what-is-going-on-in-conscious/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f6b/david-papineau-18257_brain_i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-wha_900114.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think that we can figure out what is going on in conscious colour perception just by…” — David Papineau",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David Papineau",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-papineau/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think that we can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-what-is-going-on-in-conscious/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-papineau/i-don-t-think-that-we-can-figure-out-what-is-going-on-in-conscious/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
