CULTURE, MEDIA & FILM | RESEARCH ARTICLE Goethe’s theory of colors between the ancient philosophy, middle ages occultism and modern science Victor Barsan and Andrei Merticariu Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1145569 Page 1 of 29 Barsan & Merticariu, Cogent Arts & Humanities (2016), 3: 1145569 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311983.2016.1145569 CULTURE, MEDIA & FILM | RESEARCH ARTICLE Goethe’s theory of colors between the ancient philosophy, middle ages occultism and modern science 1 2 Received: 18 February 2015 Victor Barsan * and Andrei Merticariu Accepted: 20 January 2016 Published: 18 February 2016 Abstract: Goethe’s rejection of Newton’s theory of colors is an interesting example *Corresponding author: Victor Barsan, of the vulnerability of the human mind—however brilliant it might be—to fanati- Department of Theoretical Physics, cism. After an analysis of Goethe’s persistent fascination with magic and occultism, Horia Hulubei Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering, Aleea Reactorului of his education, existential experiences, influences, and idiosyncrasies, the authors nr. 30, Magurele, Bucharest, Romania E-mail:
[email protected] propose an original interpretation of his anti-Newtonian position. The relevance of Goethe’s Farbenlehre to physics and physiology, from the perspective of modern sci- Reviewing editor: Peter Stanley Fosl, Transylvania ence, is discussed in detail. University, USA Subjects: Aristotle; Biophysics; Experimental Physics; Fine Art; Medical Physics; Ophthal- Additional information is available at the end of the article mology; Philosophy of Art; Philosophy of Science; Presocratics Keywords: ancient philosophy; Greek–Roman classicism; middle ages science; Newtonian science; occultism; pantheism; optics; theory of colors; primordial phenomenon (urphaeno men) 1. Introduction Light is one of the most interesting components of the physical universe.