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think the philosophical paradox holds true for any system of representation (metaphor, drawing, language). This is the issue taken up with epistemology, and, to some extent, why hermeneutics becomes a more attractive paradigm. What we 'see' in response to light waves is an image generated by a series of coordinated action potentials in our heads. Since the neuronal wiring in our brains is very similar from one human to another, it seems logical to me that we should each see an apple when processing similar inputs from our retina through the optic nerve to our brain. Certainly the information we store about apples (what apples taste, smell like, where they're nutritious foodsources etc.) is certainly influenced by experience (or, sticking with Emily Dickenson, changes to our neurons resulting from experiences and learning), although I would think most human brains would 'see' the same shape, colour etc. when viewing an apple, irrespective of acculturation.