Goethe's Theory of Colours

by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Overview

By the time Goethe's "Theory of Colours" appeared in 1810, the wavelength theory of light and colour had been firmly established. To Goethe, the theory was the result of mistaking an incidental result for an elemental principle. Far from pretending to a knowledge of physics, he insisted that such knowledge was an actual hindrance to understanding. He based his conclusions exclusively upon exhaustive personal observation of the phenomena of colour. Of his own theory, Goethe was supremely confident: "From the philosopher, we believe we merit thanks for having traced the phenomena of colours to their first sources, to the circumstances under which they appear and are, and beyond which no further explanation respecting them is possible." Goethe's scientific conclusions have, of course, long since been thoroughly demolished, but the intelligent reader of today may enjoy this work on quite different grounds: for the beauty and sweep of his conjectures regarding the connection between colour and philosophical ideas; for an insight into early nineteenth-century beliefs and modes of thought; and for the flavour of life in Europe just after the American and French Revolutions. (Goodreads)

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783962723248
Publisher:	Otbebookpublishing
Publication date:	04/18/2018
Series:	Classics To Go
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	235
File size:	791 KB

About the Author

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832) stands as a towering figure in world literature, whose works and ideas transcended the confines of his native Germany to influence the entire Western canon. Born in Frankfurt to a well-to-do family, Goethe's early exposure to literature, art, and science set the stage for a life marked by intellectual curiosity and creative genius.Goethe's literary contributions are vast and varied, encompassing poetry, drama, novels, and scientific treatises. His magnum opus, "Faust," a dramatic exploration of ambition, desire, and redemption, remains a cornerstone of Western literature. Goethe's poetry, characterized by its emotional depth and lyrical beauty, has inspired countless poets and writers, including the likes of Percy Bysshe Shelley and Walt Whitman.A man of the Enlightenment, Goethe was deeply engaged with the scientific and philosophical currents of his time. His work in color theory and his botanical studies showcased his polymathic interests and his belief in the interconnectedness of all knowledge. Goethe's revolutionary ideas about individualism, nature, and the human spirit resonated with the burgeoning Romantic movement, influencing contemporaries such as Friedrich Schiller and later figures like Ralph Waldo Emerson.Not without controversy, Goethe's relationships and political stances often sparked debate. His liaison with Charlotte von Stein, a married woman, and his later relationship with the much younger Christiane Vulpius, whom he eventually married, challenged societal norms. Politically, his pragmatic approach to governance and his service at the Weimar court contrasted with the more radical revolutionary fervor of his age.Goethe's legacy endures not only through his literary masterpieces but also through his profound impact on the cultural and intellectual landscape of his time, making him a figure of enduring fascination for modern readers.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe; (28 August 1749 – 22 March 1832) was a German writer and statesman. His works include four novels; epic and lyric poetry; prose and verse dramas; memoirs; an autobiography; literary and aesthetic criticism; and treatises on botany, anatomy, and colour. In addition, there are numerous literary and scientific fragments, more than 10,000 letters, and nearly 3,000 drawings by him extant. (Wikipedia)

Table of Contents

Part I. Physiological Colours. 1. Effects of Light and Darkness on the Eye. 2. Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye. 3. Grey Surfaces and Objects. 4. Dazzling Colourless Objects. 5. Coloured Objects. 6. Coloured Shadows. 7. Faint Lights. 8. Subjective Halos. Part II. Physical Colours. 9. Dioptrical Colours. 10. Dioptrical Colours of the First Class. 11. Dioptrical Colours of the Second Class – Refraction. 12. Refraction without the Appearance of Colour. 13. Conditions of the Appearance of Colour. 14. Conditions under which the Appearance of Colour Increases. 15. Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena. 16. Decrease of the Appearance of Colour. 17. Grey Objects Displaced by Refraction. 18. Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction. 19. Achromatism and Hyperchromatism. 20. Advantages of Subjective Experiments – Transition to the Objective. 21. Refraction without the Appearance of Colour. 22. Conditions of the Appearance of Colour. 23. Conditions of the Increase of Colour. 24. Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena. 25. Decrease of the Appearance of Colour. 26. Grey Objects. 27. Coloured Objects. 28. Achromatism and Hyperchromatism. 29. Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments. 30. Transition. 31. Catoptrical Colours. 32. Paroptical Colours. 33. Epoptical Colours. Part III. Chemical Colours. 34. Chemical Contrast. 35. White. 36. Black. 37. First Excitation of Colour. 38. Augmentation of Colour. 39. Culmination. 40. Fluctuation. 41. Passage through the Whole Scale. 42. Inversion. 43. Fixation. 44. Intermixture, Real. 45. Intermixture, Apparent. 46. Communication, Actual. 47. Communication, Apparent. 48. Extraction. 49. Nomenclature. 50. Minerals. 51. Plants. 52. Worms, Insects, Fishes. 53. Birds. 54. Mammalia and Human Beings. 55. Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light through Coloured Mediums. 56. Chemical Effect in Dioptrical Achromatism. Part IV. General Characteristics. Part V. Relation to Other Pursuits. Part VI. Effect of Colour with Reference to Moral Associations.