Theories of Vision from Al-Kindi to Kepler

by David C. Lindberg

Kepler's successful solution to the problem of vision early in the seventeenth century was a theoretical triumph as significant as many of the more celebrated developments of the scientific revolution. Yet the full import of Kepler's arguments can be grasped only when they are viewed against the background of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance visual theory. David C. Lindberg provides this background, and in doing so he fills the gap in historical scholarship and constructs a model for tracing the development of scientific ideas.

David C. Lindberg is professor and chairman of the department of the history of science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Genres: Science, History Of Science, Nonfiction, Art

331 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

David C. Lindberg was an American historian of science. His main focus was in the history of medieval and early modern science, especially physical science and the relationship between religion and science. Lindberg was the author or editor of many books and received numerous grants and awards. He also served as President of the History of Science Society and, in 1999, was recipient of its highest prize for lifetime scholarly achievement: the Sarton medal.

Reviews

[Conrad · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting thing I got out of the book was that Kepler was the first to realize that light has mass enough to move things - he called this force the vis motrix. IIRC, it was Newton who rightly corrected the vis motrix out of Kepler's theory of vision, but then, around 500 years later, people decided Kepler's physics were pretty reasonable, and light does indeed have force. Remarkable.

The book's definitely a little on the dry side; on the other hand, it draws a direct line from Aristotle's theories of optics through Al-Kindi and Alhazen, the Arabs who adapted Greco-Roman medicine, and shows how the "lost" knowledge was digested (with typical alacrity) by generations of medieval scholars and reintroduced in no small measure due to artists like Brunelleschi.

While the whole narrative is bound to strike some Medievalists as annoyingly triumphal in focus, Lindberg's research is impeccable though not so exhaustive to be boring, and it was published at a time when a lot of people still liked to pretend that anyone of swarthy skin during the pause in history between Cicero and Da Vinci was a barbarian deserving of slaughter by righteous crackers. For that, I exclaim, David Lindberg, thou hast Balls.

[Marv · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the study of science often the historical background of a theory promotes a better understanding of the theory or subject. David C. Lindberg presents a splendid backdrop for understanding how the science of optics developed.

[Timothy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating exploration of how classic science was transformed in Islamic cultures before returning to Europe.