Theories of Vision from Al-Kindi to Kepler

Rating:
Summary: A Narrative Account of the History of Vision
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: A Narrative Account of the History of Vision
Review: 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.