Light, Darkness and Colours

Using Goethe's Theory of Colours (Zur Farbenlehre) as point of departure, Light, Darkness and Colours takes us on a fascinating journey through the universe of colours. In 1704, Sir Isaac Newton published Light and Refraction, his study of the interactions between sunlight and prisms. Newton was, as a good scientist, intent on achieving objectivity, which meant studying sunlight in isolation. He thought colours were contained solely in light, and found the spectrum he was looking for. When he reproduced this experiment, Goethe found another, hidden set of colours missed by Newton. Goethe found the hidden colours in the boundaries between light and darkness. He felt, as an artist, that one could not talk about light without including darkness. Calling it 'the light-darkness polarity', Goethe made this new scientific discovery using artistic methods in conjunction with science. As far as scientists were concerned, Goethe was a layman, which meant that his research went largely ignored.

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Light Fantastic

Isaac Newton: His Life and Work

This video traces the life of Isaac Newton and various aspects of Newton's work in science and theology, relating them to the political, social and theological concerns of the late 17th century and early 18th century England. It is presented by Simon Schaffer.

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Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton: The Last Magician

Isaac Newton: The Last Magician

Isaac Newton is now considered to be the greatest genius of all-time, a great rationalist who laid the foundations for many of the scientific and mathematical breakthroughs that shape the modern world. But this biography reveals a much more complex figure by interviewing experts and delving into his own writings and those of his contemporaries. Newton emerges as an often divisive figure, one who lived a largely solitary life. In the secrecy of his study and laboratory, we find that he also delved into heretical religion, alchemy and the occult.

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Isaac Newton
Newton's Dark Secrets

Newton's Dark Secrets

Isaac Newton was the greatest scientist of his day, perhaps of all time. But while Isaac Newton was busy discovering the universal law of gravitation, he was also searching out hidden meanings in the Bible and pursuing the covert art of alchemy. This film explores the strange and complex mind of Isaac Newton. Using docudrama scenes, it recreates the unique climate of late 17th-century England, where a newfound fascination with science and mathematics coexisted with extreme views on religious doctrine. Newton shared both obsessions. This film also covers Newton's most important discoveries in mathematics, physics, and optics. And it follows a detailed recreation of one of Newton's little-known alchemical experiments, assembled by Bill Newman, Professor of History and Philosophy of Science at Indiana University, who spent years deciphering Newton's secret coded recipes. (from pbs.org)

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Books and Films - Isaac Newton