Customer Reviews

Theories of Vision from Al-Kindi to Kepler

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The remarkable achievement of David C. Lindberg's book, "Theories of Vision From Al-Kindi to Kepler" (1976, 1981) is the series of linkages he establishes between optical theorists from the ancient Greeks through those of the Middle Ages and culminating with Johannes Kepler. By carefully following this thread of continuity, landmark thinkers in the world of optical theory such as Alhazen and Kepler are viewed not as transformative "revolutionary figures" as some commentators have portrayed them, but rather as "culminating figures" within an intellectual tradition. In taking this approach, Lindberg's account of the history of vision assumes an almost narrative quality which serves to benefit the reader in terms of understanding the "story" of optical thought. It is an important story, Lindberg argues, because for many early thinkers and natural philosophers optics was considered "the most fundamental of the natural sciences, the key that would unlock nature's door and reveal her innermost secrets" (p. ix). As a result, the study of optics was widespread in the European and Islamic cultures and must be seriously considered in order to gain a broad understanding of early European intellectual history. This becomes readily apparent when Lindberg states that all "early natural philosophers acknowledged that vision is man's most noble and dependable sense, and the struggle to understand its workings occupied large numbers of scholars for some two thousand years" (p. x).

It should be noted that the bulk of Lindberg's book is occupied with the at times painstakingly detailed explanation of each thinker's respective theory. Lindberg will also cite extensively from a thinker's original text, thereby providing the reader with a sense of that thinker's "voice." Regardless of the extent to which Lindberg becomes involved in the explication of a particular theory, he is always sure to impress upon the reader the historical and scientific significance of each theorist's work. In this sense, Lindberg succeeds both on the level of theoretical explication and historical contextualization and continuity.

This book has a glossy new cover, but it is a reprint, and inside the text is horribly printed. The type is swollen and blurry, and there are artefacts everywhere, making it difficult to read.

This book is a great investment. It spears you a lot of time giving you a precise and complete chronological frame concerning theories of vision. Following chronological order Lindberg always compares what the next thinker adds or where exactly is his originality so you can keep track. It's like history of ideas of theories of vision: an intellectual development of the subject throughout times. So, it's not purely historical and it's not purely philosophical.

(You can even disagree with some analysis that Lindberg does but he even gives you enough information for you to disagree with him!)

The fact that it focuses on theories before Kepler (1571-1630) is in my opinion the book's greatest virtue - and I have been looking for such a book for a long time! The idea that only something happened when Newton (1643-1727) came along - giving the subject a "proper science" treatment - is truly a poor one. Goethe was right, there's more to light and color then Newton's analysis states and before him there's many impressive approaches that should be considered.

If the index sounds strange to you it's because there's a lot you need to know!