Are colors only visible?

Many suppose colors are mind-independent. And in general, mind-independent features can be accessed in various ways – shapes, for example, can be seen or felt. Colors, however, can supposedly only be seen – all experiences of color are visual experiences. Why? I argue that there is no good answer, and many reasons for doubt; I conclude that if colors are mind-independent, they can probably be experienced non-visually. This might sound like a Berkeleian reductio, but I argue that my conclusion isn’t absurd. So, if you already think colors are mind-independent, you should embrace the result rather than changing your mind.

Authors

Publication Details

Journal
Inquiry
Published
2026-09-05
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/0020174x.2026.2708314
Primary Topic
Categorization, perception, and language
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Are colors only visible?

Alex Kerr
Inquiry
Categorization, perception, and language
article

Are colors only visible?

Alex Kerr
article en

Abstract

Many suppose colors are mind-independent. And in general, mind-independent features can be accessed in various ways – shapes, for example, can be seen or felt. Colors, however, can supposedly only be seen – all experiences of color are visual experiences. Why? I argue that there is no good answer, and many reasons for doubt; I conclude that if colors are mind-independent, they can probably be experienced non-visually. This might sound like a Berkeleian reductio, but I argue that my conclusion isn’t absurd. So, if you already think colors are mind-independent, you should embrace the result rather than changing your mind.

Inquiry
Reduced inequalities
Openalex Percentile: Top 7%
Categorization, perception, and language
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.