{"product_id":"optics-in-the-age-of-euler-conceptions-of-the-nature-of-light-1700-1795-paperback-9780521035071","title":"Optics in the Age of Euler; Conceptions of the Nature of Light, 1700–1795 (Paperback \/ softback) 9780521035071","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eOptics in the Age of Euler\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eConceptions of the Nature of Light, 1700–1795\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat is light? This 1995 book studies the eighteenth-century origins and early phases of this key debate in optics.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eCasper Hakfoort (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9780521035071, Cambridge University Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 14 December 2006\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e256 pages, 13 b\/w illus.  3 tables\u003cbr\u003e22.8 x 15.2 x 1.7 cm, 0.388 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e'Hakfoort's book is well researched. It is indispensable for anyone who wants to understand the growing field of research in eighteenth-century optics.' Kurt Moller Pedersen, Centaurus\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAccording 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.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eAcknowledgements\u003cbr\u003e 1. Introduction\u003cbr\u003e 2. The debate on colours, 1672–1720\u003cbr\u003e 3. Theoretical traditions in physical optics, 1700–45\u003cbr\u003e 4. Euler's 'Nova theoria' (1746)\u003cbr\u003e 5. The debate in Germany on the nature of light, 1740–95\u003cbr\u003e 6. Epilogue: optics as a mirror of eighteenth-century science\u003cbr\u003e Notes\u003cbr\u003e Bibliography\u003cbr\u003e Index.\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: History of science [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on History of science\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22History%20of%20science%20%5BPDX%5D%22\"\u003ePDX\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Cambridge University Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46006235234584,"sku":"9780521035071","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/products\/9780521035071I_37971ca8-15bc-41e8-acb5-c7ed70207246.jpg?v=1694968285","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/optics-in-the-age-of-euler-conceptions-of-the-nature-of-light-1700-1795-paperback-9780521035071","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}