Abstract

The “four-dimensional” colour space pigeons see may contain millions more colours than ours. Despite the long history of close association between our species, we might say humans and pigeons live in quite different worlds. If different species effectively live in different worlds, does that mean our biology constructs reality? This article sketches a way to resolve this dilemma based on inquiry and action as theorised by pragmatist philosopher Charles Peirce. It reports on an academic paper recently published by my colleague Andre Sant’Anna and myself. (“Pragmatic Realism: Towards a Reconciliation of Enactivism and Realism”, Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, Feb 2024).