How can you explain to a blind man, the apple is red?

Answer 1

Very very interesting question...

I think I would try to use symbolism, analogies, and metaphors--sort of like what you would do if you were writing a poem on a color. I mean, there is no way to show him, although, I think if you bring him out in the sunshine, he could possibly see a warm hue/aura that may be best for yellow/gold. the feel of warm could be used for yellow.

As for red? and an apple being red? I would definitely link it to fire and heat. I would take a thesaurus or poet's dictionary/thesaurus and look up all he words that apply to apple and red (mostly red) and then make me a list. Then, I would use analogies such as with blood, heat, fire, passion, etc.

It's difficult, but not impossible for the blind man to "see" or understand a concept that you can only understand thru sight... It takes compassion, imagination, and creativity to really work out this one.

Answer 2

A blind man (that has always been blind) has never seen the color red. The color red is not solid. An apple is, so of course the blind man will know what an apple is and knows the general shape and structure of an apple, and the taste and smell of an apple. The color red has no such thing as taste, smell, feel, or shape. You could describe the color red on an apple but all the blind man can do is imagine the color and picture of a red apple. Keep in mind that a blind man has never seen, much less seen a red apple. You could use feelings to describe the color red. Heat is one, I think of heat when I think of red. But then again, heat has no connection with an apple. A blind man might not ever believe you though, he may like the idea of a purple apple over a red apple. I can't imagine ever being completely blind all my life, never seeing color or any of the beautiful things in life.

Answer 3

Unless the blind man has at some point in his life been able to see, you can never explain the concept of something being red. Since they have never seen red, they don't know what red would look like. They would simply understand it as a word that describes the colour, but would not be able to visualize it.

Answer 4

Explain to the blind man that the skin of the apple reflects electromagnetic waves of roughly 625 to 760 nanometres wavelength.

It won't help him understand what red looks like to you.... but at least it will form a consistant description of what defines red... which can then be applied to other things with the aid of certain electromagnetic analytical devices.

Afterall... "red" doesn't exist in any other terms to a blind person.

Answer 5

I am confident that can do this relatively easily. As I know that blind people have enhanced alternative senses. They can sense emotions like any other person. In fact they can feel presence of people better they normal people. If we understand that red is as warm, outreaching and vivid a colour as emotions of love and passion than I can explain to nearest degree of accuracy what a red apple looks like to seeing people.

Answer 6

Still worse, I am under the wrong impression that apple is green, but the name given (taught) to me is red. The colour I see is 'your' green, but fortunately, I remain undiscovered, since no eye doctor bothered to look through my eyes to check them, so I keep calling it a 'red' apple, and therefore, no quarrels. The blind is better off, at least , not guilty of lying , or, not being misled.

Answer 7

Get him to eat it. They taste different to green ones. Tell him 'all apples that taste like this are red.' He'll probably already have realised that colour is a concept he's gonna struggle with. Tell him that when he eats a red apple to say 'fffffffffffffffffffffffff' quietly to himself. That is a red sound. Give him a green apple and tell him to go 'nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn' when he eats it. That is a green sound. Yellow is 'eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'. He'll then associate the specific flavours with the corresponding sounds. if he eats one that goes 'zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz' theres a wasp on it.

Answer 8

Ah! What a kind heart you possess to even fabricate such an event. I shall soothe the curiosity for its serenity within its softness. :)

I presume you bear a query concerning a mortal blind to his birth, right?

Now let me explain you this in a philosophical mannerism. Every mortal bears an array of senses that he sustains his lifestyle with. Just like we bear terms like 'time' to our knowledge, inspite of not having a proper sense to perceive it, we do understand the term.

In the same accordance, one should use the resources he is provided with, e.i. his other senses. The blind man bears acquaintence to sound, touch, smell, taste and feelings. Utilize these.

First you must wander about your own mind to acquaint yourself to what the colour red suggests. What sort of an emotion takes over you when you see red? Passion, anger, lust? Just explain that the colour corresponds to these emotions. Furthermore, allow him/her to touch and feel the object so as to enable him to evaluate a relationship between his perceptions and your descriptions.

For other colours you will discover similar descriptions. Since he is deprived of sight since birth, do not vex over how he/she perceives it. Its just impossible for the person to view the colour, yet he can create an ideology in its relation, so as to better 'see' the world.

Answer 9

by using alternative descriptions, red as a colour would be no different to a person who is sightless, an alternative descripive must be found,sighted persons can imagine red as being a hot colour.
no such imagination for a person who cannot see red.the sensory input from the eyes is not there, whatever the sightless person imagines red to look like then that is what it will be. LF

Answer 10

Some blind people can notice the differences in wavelenghts, therefore you can use lamps with a blue and a red bulb to show them the difference. They will feel it by a variation of heat, I think.
Some blind people can feel colors by touch, too.