Color vision theories in nineteenth century germany between idealism and empiricism

Abstract

AbstractHelmholtz and Hering are well known names in the history of physiological optics and color‐vision theory, whereas Goethe's work on color is generally regarded as standing outside the mainstream of scientific tradition. This article shows that Goethe not only stimulated the philosopher Schopenhauer to publish on color vision, but also Purkyňe and Johannes Müller, then the most influential authorities writing on sensory physiology in Germany. The latter was Helmholtz's teacher. The treatment of subjective color‐contrast phenomena by different German nineteenth‐century authors reflects the conflict between idealism and empiricism. In Germany idealism had an overwhelming influence on scientific ideas and institutions at the beginning of the last century. After 1830 this influence declined rapidly and was replaced by empiricism. But some of the idealistic stimulations remained active until the end of the century, especially in the work of Fechner and Hering.