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A Critique
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of wave-lengths produces difference of colour, each colour having its own specific wave-length and frequency. When white light falls on any material object, it absorbs some of the radiations and reflects the rest. The reflected radiations reach our eyes and we perceive the colour of the object corresponding to wave-lengths of these radiations, Thus, when the light from the sun falls on the grass, it absorbs radiations of all other wave-lengths except one representing green colour. Consequently, only radiations of wave-length representing green colour reaches our eyes. They stimulate the optic equipment and we see the grass as 'green'.1
It is obvious that the reflection of the wave-lengths corresponding to green colour and absorption of the rest of the wave-lengths by grass is due to its own specific structual property. Thus, on the basis of the scientific theory of colour, it becomes clear that the perception of grass as green (or rose as red) depends upon the fact as to which wave-length is reflected and not absorbed by the object, and this, in turn, is decided by something inherent in the object-some structural peculiarity of the object itself.
The Jain view regarding colour is similar to the above. Senseorgan 'eye' does not come in direct contact with the object but perceives through the medium of light. That is, the perception of colour is the result of the interaction between the inherent quality of colour possessed by the object, light and the sensory equipment. Expressed symbolically:
Cp denotes the colour perceived,
and Co denotes the objective colour,
and L denotes the function of light
and S denotes the function representing sensory equipment, then Cp-f (Co, L,S)
The green colour of the grass is the colour percevied by us (CP) which is created in two steps, firstly, there is an interaction
1.
If may be noted that a body which reflects all of the radiations will appear white, while one which absorbs all of the radiations will appear black.
