Optics in the Age of Euler; Conceptions of the Nature of Light, 1700-1795.

HAKFOORT, Casper (1955-1999).

ISBN 10: 0521404711 / ISBN 13: 9780521404716

Published by Cambridge University Press, 1995., Cambridge:, 1995

About this Item

8vo. vi, 243 pp. Bibliography, index. Bright blue cloth, gilt-stamped spine, dust-jacket. Burndy bookplate. Fine. ISBN: 0521404711 "According to received historiography, the fundamental issue in eighteenth-century optics was whether light could be understood as the emission of particles, or as the motion of waves in a subtle medium. Moreover, the emission theory of light was supposed to have been dominant in the eighteenth century, backed by Newton's physical arguments. This picture is enriched and qualified by focusing on the origins, contents and reception of the wave theory of light, published by Leonhard Euler in 1746, here studied in depth for the first time. Contrary to what has been assumed, . . . the particleâ Â"wave debate only starts with Euler. In addition, Euler's wave theory was the most popular theory in Germany for thirty-five years. Finally, when the emission view of light suddenly became dominant in Germany around 1795, new chemical experiments proved crucial. Reflecting on the mathematical, experimental and metaphysical aspects of physical optics, Casper Hakfoort provides as an epilogue a general picture of early modern science." - [publisher]. "As a bright pupil at school in 's-Heerenberg he was attracted to the study of physics. Deciding to pursue further studies in this area he registered at the Catholic University of Nijmegen in 1973, transferring to the University of Utrecht two years later and obtaining his first degree in 1980. However, physics did not fully satisfy his intellectual strivings and he sought answers to fundamental questions that are not engaged in most physics courses. This dissatisfaction prompted him to forsake the study of physics and instead to register for a Ph.D. in the history of science under the supervision of Professor H. A. M. Snelders at the University of Utrecht, where he studied from 1980 to 1985. In the following year he successfully defended his dissertation, entitled â  Optica in de eeuw van Euler', later published in Amsterdam, in 1986." [CUP].

Seller Inventory # SS11985

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Optics in the Age of Euler; Conceptions of the Nature of Light, 1700-1795.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1995., Cambridge:
• Publication Date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521404711
• ISBN 13: 9780521404716
• Binding: Hardcover
• Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket Included

About this title

Synopsis

According to received historiography, the fundamental issue in eighteenth-century optics was whether light could be understood as the emission of particles, or as the motion of waves in a subtle medium. Moreover, the emission theory of light was supposed to have been dominant in the eighteenth century, backed by Newton's physical arguments. This picture is enriched and qualified by focusing on the origins, contents and reception of the wave theory of light, published by Leonhard Euler in 1746, studied in depth in this 1995 book. Contrary to what has been assumed, the particle–wave debate only starts with Euler. When the emission view of light suddenly became dominant in Germany around 1795, it was new chemical experiments that proved crucial. Reflecting on the mathematical, experimental and metaphysical aspects of physical optics, a general picture of early modern science is outlined in the epilogue to the book.

From the Back Cover

According to received historiography, the fundamental issue in eighteenth-century optics was whether light could be understood as the emission of particles or as the motion of waves in a subtle medium. Moreover, the emission theory of light was supposed to have been dominant in the eighteenth century, backed by Newton's physical arguments.This picture is enriched and qualified by focussing on the origins, contents, and reception of Leonhard Euler's wave theory of light published in 1746, here studied in depth for the first time. Contrary to what has been assumed, in an important sense, the particle-wave debate only starts with Euler. In addition, Euler's wave theory was the most popular theory in Germany for thirty-five years. Finally, when the emission view of light suddenly became dominant in Germany around 1795, new chemical experiments were crucial. Reflecting on the mathematical, experimental, and metaphysical aspects of physical optics, Casper Hakfoort provides as an epilogue a general picture of early modern science.