The illusory colors of black and white?

Question

We have been taught for centuries that WHITE is the presence of all color, and BLACK is the absence of all color.

Why is it not explained differently? I think that the statement should be reversed.

To give credence to this statement, look at any color, primary colors preferred. If a pure red light is shown against a white surface, we see the red being reflected and not absorbed.

All colors BUT the green are absorbed. The same goes for any other color, or group of colors

A prism separates all colors of the visible spectrum allowing us to see each color that is NOT absorbed, but reflected.

If a person takes all colors of the spectrum (R.O.Y.G.B.I.V)

and mixes them together this person will end up with a black color. This means that EVERY color is absorbed and not allowed to reflect. White, in this statement is achieved if NO colors are absorbed It stays inside the object being illuminated. I'd really like to hear both pro and con arguments for this idea. - - -Joemama

Answer 1

Actually, it seems all of your statements are incorrect.  The white surface reflects only red light because only red light is incident, not because anything else is absorbed.  There is no such thing as primary colors.  A prism doesn't absorb or reflect, it refracts.  There are many more than seven colors in the human visible spectrum.  It's probably in the billions of monochromatic colors, and that's even before mixing.  Note the difference between additive and subtractive color mixing.  Shine RGB (red green and blue) lights onto a completely reflective screen and you get white.  Place RGB filters in series and no light gets through (black).  Black and white are 'colors' by customary definition.