How could you describe color green to a born blind person?

Question

This question was used during my job interview. And it sounded weird to me because I know there's no right or wrong answer to this question. So if you were to respond this, what would be your answer?

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

You can't.

Some questions do not have answers.

Answer 3

They actually pick up a good understanding of colours from language itself - i.e. they can name "warm" colours and "cool" colours and soothing colours, and have some idea of what clashes and what doesn't. But they will never be able to visualize it.

But then, philosophically speaking, we can't prove that your "green" isn't my "red" as represented in the cortex. Trying describing green to sighted people first, without naming green things or referencing other colours.

And of course the more important question is: *why* are you describing colour to a blind person? How is this useful for you or them? It's a waste of both your time. You should discuss poetry or something less one sided.

... not sure I'd say this in an interview. It would depend on how badly I wanted the placement and how much such a stupid question would annoy me.

Answer 4

I'd give them a mint ice cream milkshake so they could taste green.

Answer 5

You can't.

But if it's for a job interview, you would obviously come up with some bullsh*t.

I would describe the emotion that the color green means to me, and give reasons for it.

I.e. Green is the color of Christmas, so it means happiness and cheerfulness to me. I would get the blind person to think of these feelings and apply a color to his feelings, and that color would be the closest thing to Green i could describe.