Re: Newton and Goethe

[Russell J Rosener <rrosener@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 23 Jul 1996, Robert Long wrote:

> Date: Tue, 23 Jul 1996 06:06:56 +0200
> From: Robert Long <boblong@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> Reply-To: infrared-photography@xxxxx
> To: rrosener@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: Newton and Goethe
> 
> ...  Should have known better though, because I once wrote an
> article that involved researching a color organ or harpsichord built
> by an 18th Century French padre who based his design on Newton's.
> Newton had the idea that since the wavelength of extreme red is
> approximately twice that of extreme violet, and the same 2:1
> relationship exists in the wavelengths at the extremes of the musical
> octave, there must be some relationship between color and sound.
> 
> So what are we all doing, playing IR overtones, like violinists?  [I
> know, I know: that puts the short wavelengths in the IR spectrum,
> where they don't belong.  Don't be so all-fired pedantic!]
> 

That sounds like Newton alright. He thought that there was a divine
universal "plan" behind the universe, and that "The Creator" left all
these clues behind in nature. Newton thought that by studying nature and
unraveling these connections, he could better understand "The eye (meaning
mind) of God." There is much to suggest in Newton's own diaries that he
was one of the last of the ancient mystics, rather than a truly "modern"
mind. Though Einstein carried this mystical idea in his head and tried to
prove it with his "unified field theory."

What does this have to do with infra red photography? I suppose one of the
attractions to infra red imaging for me is this idea of exploring realms
beyond the visible. It reveals a hidden "truth" we can't see with our
naked eyes. I hope some contributers to the list can add info about
electronic infra red imaging. NASA and the ESA have done some amazing
things with it.

Russ Rosener



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Topic No. 16