A thought/theory...

[K_Mac]

Color is derived from the spectrum of white light. Each color (red orange yellow green blue indigo violet) has a specific wavelength associated with it, which gives each color it's distinctive appearance.

The part of the eye that detects these wavelengths are cone cells. Other parts of the eye pass this information to the brain, where it is translated as the "color" that you see.

For instance, the color red has a wavelength of around 700 nm. Every human eye (barring mutations, etc) will interpret this wavelength in the same way.

Sorry.

An intelligent answer explaining the science of how we see color.

This is not an existential question like why am here, or what is the meaning of life, or at what age is a youngster able to understand and contribute to adult conversation. See what I'm saying? ;D

[Bassn Blvd]

No it's not.  It's red because that's the color you chose to name it.  You very easily could have grown up believing orange is purple and green is yellow.

[.dsaavedra.]

No it's not. It's red because that's the color you chose to name it. You very easily could have grown up believing orange is purple and green is yellow.

sure, you call it whatever you choose to call it, but it is what it is, in this case light with a wavelength of around 700 nm and anybody with normal eyesight will see it as so, but they can call it whatever they want

[VolFan]

It all depends on what your definition of "is" is.

[Hookemdown.]

It all depends on what your definition of "is" is.

;D

I actually thought  writing a paper about "What is, is?" for my philosophy class. 

dsaavera is right.  While in theory, "red" is just a name.  However, there are certain characteristics that make "red" what it is.  The true value of red never changes, no matter what you name it.  Language does not determine what things are, it just helps us to communicate about them.

[Root beer]

My philosophy professor told me that there was another philosophy professor that convinced everyone in his class that they were not real. Just a figure of their imagination.

[Bankbeater]

I think that there was a Twilight Zone episode along these lines.....

[slonezp]

If you want to come paint my house I'll give you the paint and you can call it whatever color you like. ;D

[Gone_Phishin]

My philosophy professor told me that there was another philosophy professor that convinced everyone in his class that they were not real. Just a figure of their imagination.

Did he pass around a tray of sugar cubes?  ;D

[Root beer]

My philosophy professor told me that there was another philosophy professor that convinced everyone in his class that they were not real. Just a figure of their imagination.

Did he pass around a tray of sugar cubes? ;D

I think it was shroom.  :D

[Bassn Blvd]

It all depends on what your definition of "is" is.

;D

I actually thought writing a paper about "What is, is?" for my philosophy class.

dsaavera is right. While in theory, "red" is just a name. However, there are certain characteristics that make "red" what it is. The true value of red never changes, no matter what you name it. Language does not determine what things are, it just helps us to communicate about them.

Someone at some point in time had to label red as red.  They could have very easily labeled red as green.

[.dsaavedra.]

It all depends on what your definition of "is" is.

;D

I actually thought writing a paper about "What is, is?" for my philosophy class.

dsaavera is right. While in theory, "red" is just a name. However, there are certain characteristics that make "red" what it is. The true value of red never changes, no matter what you name it. Language does not determine what things are, it just helps us to communicate about them.

Someone at some point in time had to label red as red. They could have very easily labeled red as green.

had they named it green we would still see it the same way, it wouldn't look any different.

[SirSnookalot]

"A Rose Is A Rose By Any Other Name",

Romeo and Juliet, By William Shakespeare

Things are what they are regardless of the name.

Was Shakespeare a fishing tackle manufacturer?  :-?

[BadKarma42]

... that I came up with in school. (No I was not high. lol)

What if everyone saw colors different? Like male's saw the opposite color spectrum then women,or for everyone it was random. Like when I see blue, others see the opposite on the color spectrum (I don't know the opposite). It could explain why everyone likes and has different favorite colors. Maybe everyone likes a standard color, but we all see it different. So like if everything saw the, we'll call it Mystery-color, and one person saw it to be red, and the other saw it to be purple, and those were there favorite colors, it would be the same mystery-color, but they see it as a different color than its true Mystery-color. This makes no-sense, but then again, I cant think of anyway to disprove the theory. Because everyone see's the color different if the theory is correct. Suppose you place a blue-piece of paper on a table and ask everyone to tell you what color it is. They will all answer blue, because ever since they were born they've learned it as blue, even though they may see it as red. So red may be blue to them.

But I dont think this can proven/disproven... I guess we'll never know man...

What color do you see when you look at fluorocarbon?

[slonezp]

... that I came up with in school. (No I was not high. lol)

What if everyone saw colors different? Like male's saw the opposite color spectrum then women,or for everyone it was random. Like when I see blue, others see the opposite on the color spectrum (I don't know the opposite). It could explain why everyone likes and has different favorite colors. Maybe everyone likes a standard color, but we all see it different. So like if everything saw the, we'll call it Mystery-color, and one person saw it to be red, and the other saw it to be purple, and those were there favorite colors, it would be the same mystery-color, but they see it as a different color than its true Mystery-color. This makes no-sense, but then again, I cant think of anyway to disprove the theory. Because everyone see's the color different if the theory is correct. Suppose you place a blue-piece of paper on a table and ask everyone to tell you what color it is. They will all answer blue, because ever since they were born they've learned it as blue, even though they may see it as red. So red may be blue to them.

But I dont think this can proven/disproven... I guess we'll never know man...

What color do you see when you look at fluorocarbon?

I bet it's Double Rainbow ;D

[farmpond1]

My philosophy professor told me that there was another philosophy professor that convinced everyone in his class that they were not real. Just a figure of their imagination.

One can't be only a figment of one's own imagination.  It defies logic.  The students were either too baffled by double speak or too intimidated to challenge him/her. It happens all the time in academia.  One can, however, be a legend only in one's own mind.