10
2 The Visual World
It may be pertinent to address the question of whether insects are able to
see in the true sense of being aware of a visual image. Not many years ago it
was the prevailing opinion that insect behavior is governed exclusively by hardwired routines, mechanically controlled by ambient stimuli. But currently the
opinion of many scientists is veering sharply away from that doctrinaire view.
From an important recent article in the journal Current Biology we get the
following statement: “The last 15 years have generated a wealth of literature
from multiple independent laboratories on cognitive function in insects, so
that the existence of [higher] abilities is no longer controversial.”
To claim that insects see in the true sense does not mean that they have fully
developed consciousness or awareness of the kind we believe mammals have. It
merely suggests that they possess a biological form of twilight awareness sufficient to support their observed behavior. In science today, such an assessment
is no longer anathema. However, we shall not take a stand on the question of
insect awareness. Rather, what we wish to retain is that little insects such as
fairyflies may lack visual acuity, and surely discern little of what we do, but
what they do see is presented in Gestalts, which are the hallmark of all animal
vision.
The Vision of Robots
In his book Consciousness Explained, Daniel Dennett talks about a robot called
Shakey which is able to move crates in a warehouse. Shakey is mobile, and sizes
up the precise position of a crate with its “eyes” in order to grasp it correctly:
It must be able to locate the lower edge and corners of each crate. In order to
do this, its eyes are designed to detect just three things: A horizontal edge, a Y
shape and an arrow shape. The last two represent what’s seen of a corner of a
box from an angle. 3
In order to carry out its assigned task, Shakey therefore needs to distinguish between three fixed shapes. Its “visual brain” contains a template for this
purpose, and once it selects which among the three alternatives is in view, an
appropriate action program is set in motion. Clearly, Shakey does not need any
understanding of geometry, nor any notions of space, shape or lines. Shakey’s
command center needs to be informed merely which among three discrete
options is in place. A suitable template is all that is needed.
At this point, it is very important to note that despite its usefulness, Shakey’s
visual prowess is nothing at all like animal vision, and should not be called
“vision” at all. The reason is that Shakey recognizes things on the basis of a
template. What Shakey recognizes may look like a shape to us, but outside the
2 The Visual World
It may be pertinent to address the question of whether insects are able to
see in the true sense of being aware of a visual image. Not many years ago it
was the prevailing opinion that insect behavior is governed exclusively by hardwired routines, mechanically controlled by ambient stimuli. But currently the
opinion of many scientists is veering sharply away from that doctrinaire view.
From an important recent article in the journal Current Biology we get the
following statement: “The last 15 years have generated a wealth of literature
from multiple independent laboratories on cognitive function in insects, so
that the existence of [higher] abilities is no longer controversial.”
To claim that insects see in the true sense does not mean that they have fully
developed consciousness or awareness of the kind we believe mammals have. It
merely suggests that they possess a biological form of twilight awareness sufficient to support their observed behavior. In science today, such an assessment
is no longer anathema. However, we shall not take a stand on the question of
insect awareness. Rather, what we wish to retain is that little insects such as
fairyflies may lack visual acuity, and surely discern little of what we do, but
what they do see is presented in Gestalts, which are the hallmark of all animal
vision.
The Vision of Robots
In his book Consciousness Explained, Daniel Dennett talks about a robot called
Shakey which is able to move crates in a warehouse. Shakey is mobile, and sizes
up the precise position of a crate with its “eyes” in order to grasp it correctly:
It must be able to locate the lower edge and corners of each crate. In order to
do this, its eyes are designed to detect just three things: A horizontal edge, a Y
shape and an arrow shape. The last two represent what’s seen of a corner of a
box from an angle. 3
In order to carry out its assigned task, Shakey therefore needs to distinguish between three fixed shapes. Its “visual brain” contains a template for this
purpose, and once it selects which among the three alternatives is in view, an
appropriate action program is set in motion. Clearly, Shakey does not need any
understanding of geometry, nor any notions of space, shape or lines. Shakey’s
command center needs to be informed merely which among three discrete
options is in place. A suitable template is all that is needed.
At this point, it is very important to note that despite its usefulness, Shakey’s
visual prowess is nothing at all like animal vision, and should not be called
“vision” at all. The reason is that Shakey recognizes things on the basis of a
template. What Shakey recognizes may look like a shape to us, but outside the