Five Lectures on Blindness

The work presents a series of public lectures originally delivered to university audiences in 1918, aiming to bridge the gap between sighted society and the lived experience of blindness. Drawing on a quarter‑century of hands‑on teaching and personal insight, the speaker guides listeners through the psychological landscape of a world without sight, explaining how touch, hearing and intuition become the mind’s primary instruments. The tone is both scholarly and intimate, inviting the audience to reconsider assumptions about what it means to “see.”

Topics span from the development of blind children and the challenges of re‑educating adult war‑injured soldiers, to the broader attitudes of the public and practical steps for preventing vision loss. Practical examples illustrate how hearing can map a room and how fingertips serve as eyes, offering vivid, accessible explanations for educators, families, and anyone curious about sensory adaptation. Listeners come away with a deeper appreciation of the resilience of blind individuals and concrete ideas for fostering a more inclusive society.