Abstract

This paper discusses, from the point of view of the philosophy of psychology, recent behavioral and brain studies showing effects of the diversity of language vocabulary on color perception. I examine the alternative between two different interpretations of these so-called whorfian effects, namely habitual or deep whorfianism, and shallow whorfianism. I argue that at the moment the evidence underdetermines both interpretations and the question is open. I also clarify that shallow whorfianism is not a synonym for ‘trivial whorfianism’, as some authors have suggested, but rather makes a case for the online and situated nature of human cognition.

Keywords: color perception, whorfianism, philosophy of psychology, cognitive differences

How to Cite:

Lalumera, E., (2014) “Whorfian Effects in Color Perception: Deep or Shallow?”, Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication 1(2014). doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-3676.1086