Alhacen On Refraction Introduction And Latin Text

Alhacen on Refraction: Introduction and Latin text

Alhacen's treatment of light and sight in the "De aspectibus" culminates with the analysis of refraction in book 7. Far briefer than his account of reflection, which occupies three books, Alhacen's study of refraction follows essentially the same pattern of analysis, starting with various experiments designed to establish or confirm the governing principles of refraction empirically and proceeding to the application of those principles to specific cases according to the shape of the refracting surface. In many respects, in fact, reflection and refraction are side of the same coin according to Alhacen. Contents of this two-volume set: (1) Intro.: Alhacen's Analysis of Refraction: An Overview; The Prolemaic Underpinnings of Alhacen's Refraction Analysis; The Fate of Alhacen's Refraction Analysis in the Latin West; Putting Alhacen in His Proper Place; (2) Manuscripts and Editing; (3) Latin Text; (4) English Translation. Glossary and Biblio. Illus.

Alhacen on the Principles of Reflection: Introduction and Latin text

This two-volume set is a continuation of A. Mark Smith's pub. of Ibn al-Haytham's "De aspectibus," the most important treatise on optics of the Middle Ages, indeed, the most important treatise prior to the 17th century. This ed. of Alhacen's text will appeal to those who are interested in medieval scientific developments, but also to others for whom the study of optics, in particular, forms part of the cultural development of the later Middle Ages. The understanding of vision continues to gain importance in the historiography of intellectual life in this period, & Prof. Smith's work will be an important contribution to this scholarship. His translation of the Latin text accurately represents a challenging & technical original. Illustrations.

Alhacen on refraction