Colourful insights from the dark side of the world
Artist Esref Armagan is overthrowing our notions of how the blind see, writes Simon Hayhoe
For centuries, people who were born blind have been the intellectual curios of philosophers studying consciousness. This is particularly true for those exploring the way our consciousness is effected by our bodies, especially our eyes, which Leonardo da Vinci described as the "window of the soul". One interesting fallacy is the belief that people born blind have no real idea of colour. In the 17th century, for instance, the philosopher John Locke thought parts of the world were peculiar to the individual senses. These parts could be seen in the lack of understanding of people who were blind or deaf. David Hume believed that when the senses weren’t stimulated by individual energies, such as light or sound, then no ideas could be formed. Even in the 20th century, it was commonly believed that people born blind were unable to have a true understanding of the world around them. For instance, in 1950 the psychologist Geza Revesz wrote: "[No] one born blind is able to become aware of the ...
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