This page is a permanent link to the reply below and its nested replies. See all post replies »
being · 36-40, F
Magenta, cyan and yellow dots surrounded by a grey square, some squares are dark grey and some light grey ...
helenS · 36-40, F
@being Oh yes, I know what you mean, it's an interesting phenomenon. Rubbing your eyes increases the pressure within the eyeball, and this pressure activates cells in your retina in the same way as light does. Your brain doesn't know the difference and so interprets the activation as though you were seeing light from the world outside.
UpForItNow · 22-25, F
@helenS Nietzsche had an interesting view of this in his 'Human, All Too Human'. He said to the effect that our mind forms these phosphenes into recognizable shapes in the absence of any object behind them, as we also incorporate external noises into our dreams. He liked this to primitive modes of thought, jumping to the first explanation to mind for any phenomenon, such as a thunderstorm representing angry gods.
helenS · 36-40, F
@UpForItNow Didn't he find many similarities between those primitive modes of thought and apparently more advanced modes? I believe he called that "atavisms".