Abstract
Both before and after the publication of Isaac Newton’s particulate theory of light, numerous wave theories of light were advanced by both philosophers and scientists (e.g., René Descartes, Thomas Hobbes, Robert Hooke, Francesco Grimaldi, and Christiaan Huygens). What is peculiar about this list, as frequently found in the scholarly literature on light, is that it refers to individuals who do not extend much further back than the seventeenth century. A close examination of Aristotle’s account of color and light in comparison to Christiann Huygens' theory of color and light, however, reveals that Aristotle deserves to be recognized as one who antedates and foreshadows these modern wave theorists. Indeed, we shall argue that Aristotle offered the first wave theory of color and light. On Aristotle’s theory, light is the actualization of a transparent medium such as air or water that makes possible the dissemination of color through the medium in a manner analogous to the dissemination of sound through air or water.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Isaac Newton (2018/1704).
- 2.
- 3.
Allan E. Shapiro (1973).
- 4.
- 5.
Norval Fortson (2022).
- 6.
This summary is taken directly from Christiaan Huygens (1912/1690), ch. I.
- 7.
Ibid.
- 8.
Ibid.
- 9.
A beautiful illustration of Aristotle’s distinction between a fact (τὸ ὅτι)—the increase and decrease in successive measures of Io’s period—and an explanation of the fact (τὸ διότι)—a corresponding increase and decrease in the distance of Io from the Earth together with the finite speed of light (Met Α.1.981a28-30; An. Post I.13).
- 10.
- 11.
All translations of Aristotle are from Fred D. Miller Jr. (2018) unless otherwise noted.
- 12.
See Mark Kalderon (2018) for further discussion.
- 13.
Jean De Groot (1983), p. 178.
- 14.
David Miller and Paul Schor (2016).
- 15.
Hemant More (2020).
- 16.
Since our interest is limited to Huygens’ account of visual perception, we need not ask him what becomes of the rays that strike the woodpecker without being reflected. Modern physics tells us that they are absorbed by the feathers of the woodpecker and transformed into heat.
- 17.
- 18.
This important passage regarding color’s role in locomotion can also be translated as follows: “for, as we said, the being for color in itself is this: being capable of setting in motion of that which is actually transparent.” This clearly indicates that color is the proximate cause of the motion through the transparent medium. The analogy between sound and color is particularly tight given that Aristotle thinks they often have the same medium, namely, air.
- 19.
For further development of this idea see Victor Caston (2020).
- 20.
See Caston (2018).
- 21.
In speaking of reflections of light Aristotle seems to be speaking loosely (as we explain in the next two paragraphs) since, strictly speaking, the reflections must, on his theory, be reflections of color (not light) through illuminated air.
- 22.
- 23.
I thank Christopher Shields and David Keyt for the invitation to honor Fred D. Miller, Jr. with this essay. It was a privilege and a source of great inspiration to have Fred first as a teacher and then as a dissertation advisor many years ago, and his remarkable scholarship and friendship continue to provide much stimulation and wonder in me.
References
Broackes, J. (1999). Aristotle, objectivity, and perception. Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, 17, 57–113.
Caston, V. (2018). Aristotle on the reality of colors and other perceptible qualities. Res Philosophica, 95, 35–68.
Caston, V. (2020). Aristotle on the transmission of information: Receiving form without the matter. In D. Bennett & J. Toivanen (Eds.), Philosophical problems in sense perception: Testing the limits of Aristotelianism. Studies in the history of philosophy of mind (Vol. 26, pp. 15–55). Springer.
De Groot, J. (1983). Philoponus on De Anima II.5, Physics III.3, and the propagation of light. Phronesis, 28, 177–196.
Fortson, N. (2022). Discovering the nature of light. World Scientific.
Huygens, C. (1912/1690). Treatise on light (S. P. Thompson, Trans.). MacMillan and Company.
Kalderon, M. (2018). Aristotle on transparency. In T. Crowther & M. Crumhaill (Eds.), Perceptual ephemera (pp. 219–237). Oxford University Press.
Miller, F. D., Jr. (1999). Aristotle’s philosophy of perception. Proceedings of the Boston Area Colloquium in Ancient Philosophy, 15, 177–213.
Miller, F. D., Jr. (2018). Aristotle: On the Soul and other psychological works. Oxford University Press.
Miller, D., & Schor, P. (2016, January 10). Physical optics. Physical optics | Ento Key.
More, H. (2020, January 25). Wave theory of light. Wave Theory of light: Its propositions, merits and demerits (thefactfactor.com).
Newton, I. (2018/1704). Opticks: Or, a treatise of the reflexions, refractions, inflexions and colours of light. Gale Ecco, Print Editions; originally published in 1704.
Park, D. (1997). The fire within the eye. Princeton University Press.
Perkowitz, S. (1996). Empire of light: A history of discovery in science and art. Henry Holt and Co.
Ronchi, V. (1970). The nature of light: An historical survey. Harvard University Press.
Shapiro, A. E. (1973). Kinematic optics: A study of the wave theory of light in the seventeenth century. Archive for history of exact sciences, 11, 134–266.
Silverman, A. (1989). Color and color-perception in Aristotle’s De Anima. Ancient Philosophy, 9, 271–292.
Sorabji, R. (2004). Aristotle on colour, light, and imperceptibles. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, 47, 129–140.
Tunestra, F. (2004). Rømer and the finite speed of light. Physics Today, 57, 16–17.
Weinberg, S. (2016). To explain the world: The discovery of modern science. Harper Perennial.
Weiss, R. J. (1995). A brief history of light and those who lit the way. World Scientific.
Zajonc, A. (1995). Catching the light: The entwined history of light and mind. Oxford University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2024 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Ananth, M. (2024). Aristotle and Huygens on Color and Light. In: Keyt, D., Shields, C. (eds) Principles and Praxis in Ancient Greek Philosophy. Philosophical Studies Series, vol 155. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51146-2_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-51146-2_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-51145-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-51146-2
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)