ABSTRACT
We believe that there are five senses which are the windows to all our experiences. These are the senses corresponding to touch, sight, taste, smell, and sound. These senses are associated with specific sense-organs, although the sense of touch associated with the skin is of a different “kind” as compared to sight, smell and sound. These senses are seen to be independent of each other, although there have also been arguments that taste is akin to the sense of touch. In fact, the independence of these senses is itself a matter of debate, and has been used by philosophers to argue for a variety of conclusions, such as the proof of existence of the self, and even of the world. But there seems to be little disagreement that the nature of these sensory experiences is exclusive. That is, one cannot experience the nature of sound through the eyes; what the ear contributes to that experience is special to that organ. Given this independence, it is natural that, through history, people have associated different “strengths” to these senses. The eye has been the most dominant sense in a number of ways. Sight has been the most dominant metaphor for knowledge and truth: terms such as insight, enlightenment and so on illustrate a universal privilege for the “positive” virtues of sight. But the sense of touch is also essential. As Aristotle suggests, while the sense of sight is important, without the sense of touch existence is not possible. Thus, touch is the most essential sense for human beings since we can live even if we are blind, but if we lose the capacity to touch we will die. Senses, thus, have different functions. Given all this, what does it mean when we say that there could be a unity of the senses?
