Mary the Color Scientist

Brief Description

Mary the Color Scientist is a philosophical thought experiment designed by Daniel Dennett to illustrate the limits of knowledge and our inability to fully comprehend certain aspects of consciousness, specifically the experience of sensory perceptions like color.

Detailed Description

In this thought experiment, Mary is a scientist who possesses all physical and scientific knowledge about red. However, she has never experienced or seen red herself. The question posed by Dennett is whether, upon experiencing red for the first time, it would be a surprise to Mary or not. If it were, it would suggest that there's more to knowing red than just understanding its physical properties.

This thought experiment highlights the difference between having conceptual knowledge (knowing about something) and experiential knowledge (having direct experience of something). It underscores the fact that our consciousness is richer than our comprehension, and it challenges us to consider what aspects of our world we might be unable to fully grasp.

Exercise / How to Apply

To practice this thinking tool, one can engage in a thought experiment similar to Mary's Color Scientist scenario with different stimuli. For example, imagine a person who has all the physical knowledge about the taste of strawberries but has never tasted them before. If they tasted a strawberry for the first time, would it be a surprise or not?

This exercise encourages us to think deeply about the difference between conceptual and experiential knowledge and helps us develop a better understanding of our own consciousness. It also trains us to question our assumptions about what we think we know and what we truly understand.

Suggestion for Creating an App

An app based on Mary the Color Scientist could be designed to guide users through various thought experiments similar to the original scenario. The app could feature a library of stimuli like colors, tastes, textures, smells, and emotions. Users would input all the physical knowledge they have about each stimulus, and then the app would present them with scenarios where they encounter the stimulus for the first time.

The app could gamify the concept by awarding points or badges based on the user's ability to correctly predict whether the experience would be a surprise or not. This would encourage users to think more deeply about their understanding of consciousness and to challenge their assumptions.

Other features could include a community forum where users can discuss and debate their predictions, educational resources about consciousness and related philosophical concepts, and regular updates with new stimuli to keep the learning process engaging and fresh.