Systems that can perform same visual functions that people perform can have no qualia {absent qualia}. Perhaps, machines can duplicate neuron and synapse functions, as in the China-body system [Block, 1980], and so do anything that human visual system can do. Presumably, system physical states and mechanisms, no matter how complex, do not have or need qualia. System has inputs, processes, and outputs. Perhaps, such systems can have qualia, but complexity, large scale, or inability to measure prevents people from knowing.
Perhaps, hue can be not any combination of red, blue, green, or yellow {alien color}.
Planets {Inverted Earth} {inverted qualia} can have complementary colors of Earth things [Block, 1990]. For same things, its people experience complementary color compared to Earth-people color experience. However, Inverted-Earth people call what they see complementary color names rather than Earth color names, because their vocabulary is different. When seeing tree leaves, Inverted-Earth people see magenta and say green.
If Earth people go to Inverted Earth and wear inverting-color lenses, they see same colors as on Earth and call colors same names as on Earth. When seeing tree leaves, they see green and call them green, because they use Earth language.
If Earth people go to Inverted Earth and do not wear inverting-color lenses, they see complementary colors rather than Earth colors and call them Earth names for complementary colors. However, if they stay there, they learn to use Inverted-Earth language and call complementary colors Inverted-Earth names, though phenomena remain unchanged. When seeing tree leaves, they see magenta and say green. Intentions change though objects remain the same. Therefore, phenomena are not representations.
problems
Intentions probably do not change, because situation requires no adaptations. The representation is fundamentally the same.
Perhaps, qualia do change.
Perhaps, spectrum can invert, so people see short-wavelength light as red and long-wavelength light as blue {inverted spectrum}. Perhaps, phenomena and experiences can be their opposites without affecting moods, emotions, body sensations, perceptions, cognitions, or behaviors. Subject experiences differently, but applies same functions as other people, so subject reactions and initiations are no different than normal. This can start at birth or change through learning and maturation. Perhaps, behavior and perception differences diminish over time by forgetting or adaptation.
representation and phenomena
Seemingly, for inverted spectrum, representations are the same, but inverted phenomena replace phenomena. Functions or physical states remain identical, but qualia differ. If phenomena involve representations, inverted spectra are not metaphysically possible. If phenomena do not involve representations, inverted spectra are metaphysically possible.
inversion can be impossible
Inverted spectra are not necessarily conceptually possible, because they can lead to internal contradictions. Colors do not have exact inversions, because colors mix differently, so no complete and consistent color inversion is possible.
1-Consciousness-Sense-Vision-Color Vision
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Date Modified: 2022.0225