Dogs see the world through eyes that differ from those of humans in their ability to detect detail, in depth perception, color reception, and the ability to detect movement. We are adapted for night hunting. We have more rods on our retina which increase our ability to see at night and detect movement. Because of this we sacrifice space for cones that can detect color. We are red-green color blind, and see a brighter, less detailed world. The evolution of these physical aspects allowed for our survival in different niches. Wolves hunt at night and don't need color vision as much as they need the ability to detect motion, and see in dim light. Early humans used their color vision to determine the ripeness of fruits, and the greenness of leaves. Our brains see different worlds based on our physiology. If dogs could talk, and a human and a dog were asked to write a story about the same landscape or scene, the descriptions that the two species would portray would vary in many aspects. No doubt there would be arguments about what is really in front of us, as reality is what we see and what we make of what we see. If we don't see the same things or interpret things differently, conflict often ensues.
Humans of all races, ethnicities and nationalities; of all religions and political affiliations, presumably possess the same basic physico-mechanical organs to see the world. The eyes present the brain of all men with a similar quality picture, especially after correction with glasses or contacts. Still, when it comes to worldviews, what different human individuals describe as patterns of reality, it seems like there are radically different pictures reaching the processing areas of the brain. Brains look alike anatomically, but apparently the conditioning that the brain has received through its indoctrination and experience in its culture, distorts the information that the eye presents and shapes it in a way that fits into the prevailing pattern of the organism's so called reality. What is reality really? Its really hard to see. It's colored by our individual life experience. It's a sum total of every beings perception, but transcends all of that.
Science has done a wonderful job of describing the physical processes that determine what we see when we look out the window, or look into another person's (or dog's) eyes. What goes on after that neuronal impulse leaves the retina and gets lost in the processes of the mind is another story. Social science and integral psychology tries to sort and categorize the different ways that brains and minds deal with the information presented to them. Spiral Dynamics is an approach that describes these worldviews, and what they may mean in terms of personal and societal development now and in the future. A ladder of development is proffered that describes the evolution of civilization, and the individuals that move it; from the basic survival mode of early man to the holistic, ,universal care of the higher reaches of mind. A spectrum of colors is used to describe the various stages that this mindmap encompasses. Are you green today, or orange? Do you look through red eyes or blue when you process the landscape, or read the newspaper? The color of your perception may depend on the day, or the circumstance. It's only a desciption, and not reality. What is?
We dogs are lucky to have humans take care of many of our basic needs, so we have lately begun to wonder about our own place in the spectrum of consciousness. Only after our survival requirements are met can we begin to develop care and concern for our pack, and then for our neighborhood, our cities, our states, our country, our world. Often in just that order. We hope that humans can climb the ladder of personal and collective development and are able to see, process and appreciate all of the colors that the eyes transmit, and come to some agreement on how a vibrant, colorful society can prosper. We dogs are counting on you to lay the foundation for our continued development as a species. Colour our world with hope, in loving you.
Buffy
Kodachrome Canine
Humans of all races, ethnicities and nationalities; of all religions and political affiliations, presumably possess the same basic physico-mechanical organs to see the world. The eyes present the brain of all men with a similar quality picture, especially after correction with glasses or contacts. Still, when it comes to worldviews, what different human individuals describe as patterns of reality, it seems like there are radically different pictures reaching the processing areas of the brain. Brains look alike anatomically, but apparently the conditioning that the brain has received through its indoctrination and experience in its culture, distorts the information that the eye presents and shapes it in a way that fits into the prevailing pattern of the organism's so called reality. What is reality really? Its really hard to see. It's colored by our individual life experience. It's a sum total of every beings perception, but transcends all of that.
Science has done a wonderful job of describing the physical processes that determine what we see when we look out the window, or look into another person's (or dog's) eyes. What goes on after that neuronal impulse leaves the retina and gets lost in the processes of the mind is another story. Social science and integral psychology tries to sort and categorize the different ways that brains and minds deal with the information presented to them. Spiral Dynamics is an approach that describes these worldviews, and what they may mean in terms of personal and societal development now and in the future. A ladder of development is proffered that describes the evolution of civilization, and the individuals that move it; from the basic survival mode of early man to the holistic, ,universal care of the higher reaches of mind. A spectrum of colors is used to describe the various stages that this mindmap encompasses. Are you green today, or orange? Do you look through red eyes or blue when you process the landscape, or read the newspaper? The color of your perception may depend on the day, or the circumstance. It's only a desciption, and not reality. What is?
We dogs are lucky to have humans take care of many of our basic needs, so we have lately begun to wonder about our own place in the spectrum of consciousness. Only after our survival requirements are met can we begin to develop care and concern for our pack, and then for our neighborhood, our cities, our states, our country, our world. Often in just that order. We hope that humans can climb the ladder of personal and collective development and are able to see, process and appreciate all of the colors that the eyes transmit, and come to some agreement on how a vibrant, colorful society can prosper. We dogs are counting on you to lay the foundation for our continued development as a species. Colour our world with hope, in loving you.
Buffy
Kodachrome Canine
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