Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Goethe’s scientific research ‘Theory of Colours’ is still regarded today as work of great interest. Goethe's scientific interest in the theory of colour was inspired by the natural optical phenomena and the traditions of Renaissance painting that he encountered during his first journey to Italy (1786-88). Goethe stood opposed to Newton's own theory of colour (The idea of white light being "comprised" of the different wavelengths of coloured light), and although his approach is discredited in the context of Newtonian and Quantum physics, the approach and understanding his Theory provides remains of ongoing interest to both artists and some among the more thoughtful scientists. Recently, chaos theorist Mitchell Feigenbaum consulted Goethe's work and noted "Goethe had actually performed an extraordinary set of experiments in his investigation of colours."

Goethe’s Holistic approach to the investigation of nature can be seen in the following text.

“Man in himself, in so far as he uses his healthy senses, is the most powerful and exact physical apparatus there can be. The greatest mischief of modern physics is that the experiments have, as it were, been separated off from the human being. Man wishes to cognise nature only by what artificial instruments show, and would thereby limit and prove what she can accomplish. But in this connection man stands so high that what otherwise defies portrayal is portrayed in him. What is a string and all the mechanical subdivisions of it compared with the ear of a musician? Yes, indeed, what are the elemental phenomena of nature herself in comparison with man, who must first master and modify them in order in some degree to assimilate them.”

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