– brilliantly designed tools
for perception

Our senses are our windows on the external world. Only via this ’radar network’ of our senses can we observe, recognise, experience and understand our world. Our senses determine the quality of our conscious life, and influence many of our decisions. Input from our senses can trigger a wide range of emotions in us; for example joy, happiness, peace and contentment, but also pain, fear, anger and sorrow.

We can extend the limits of our sensory capacities by means of technological aids like microscopes, telescopes, and stethoscopes. Our senses are on a continual voyage of discovery. A large part of our lives is spent on treating our senses to new, special experiences. We undertake long journeys to visit new countries, so as to experience distant deserts, mountains, lakes or beaches. We visit the zoo, movies or the theatre; we listen to classical music or pop concerts, buy exotic perfumes, or spend money on culinary delights. Whenever we willingly pay high admission fees, it is because we want to give our senses some special treat.

Clearly, the quality of our human experience is in large measure determined by our senses. So we will take an extensive look at not only the many abilities of our sense organs, but also the details of their construction.

NEXT The Eye - our window to the outside