Why read Theories of Vision from Al-kindi to Kepler?

Book cover of Theories of Vision from Al-kindi to Kepler

Book description

Kepler's successful solution to the problem of vision early in the 17th century was a theoretical triumph as significant as many of the more celebrated developments of the scientific revolution. Yet the full import of Kepler's arguments can be grasped only when they are viewed against the background of ancient,…

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Why read it?

1 author picked Theories of Vision from Al-kindi to Kepler as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Elaheh Kheirandish

Author

I find this book fascinating and pioneering in more than one way. Not only does it uncover the historical development of the important science of optics in terms of theories of vision, the predominant form of the subject in premodern times.

But the book also covers key concepts and models in visual theory starting from ancient and medieval periods, including the extramission models of ancient Greek mathematicians and physicians, the intromission models of medieval Islamic and European natural philosophers, and the critical combination of those models and disciplines in generating dependent breakthroughs.

This is among a few monographs devoted to…

From Elaheh's list on The best books on the history of science and knowledge transmission that capture our common heritage.