Newton's observations on the optical spectrum were widely accepted but Goethe noticed the difference between the scientific explanation and the phenomena as experienced by the human eye. He did not try to explain this, but rather collected and presented data, conducting experiments on the interplay of light and dark. His work was rejected as 'unscientific' by physicists but his color wheel is still used by artists today. - Summary by Lynne Thompson
Chapters
1
Translator's Preface and Preface to the First Edition Read by Lynne T 29:04
2
Introduction Read by Nathan Rosquist 16:11
3
Part I - Physiological Colours Section 1 - Effects of Light and Dark on the Eye Read by Dylan Campbell 5:12
4
Section II - Effects of Black and White Objects on the Eye Read by Nathan Rosquist 13:32
5
Section III - Grey Surfaces and Objects; Section IV - Dazzling Colourless Objects Read by Deborah Balm 9:19
6
Section V - Coloured Objects Read by Deborah Balm 13:39
7
Section VI - Coloured Shadows Read by Deborah Balm 12:43
8
Section VII - Faint Lights; Section VIII - Subjective Halos Read by Kieren Metts 8:55
9
Pathological Colours - Appendix Read by Kieren Metts 14:15
10
Part 2 - Physical Colours - Section IX - Diotropical Colours Read by playonwords 6:19
11
Section X - Diotropical Colours of the First Class Read by playonwords 18:55
12
Section XI - Diotropical Colours of the Second Class - Refraction Read by Gillian Hendrie 8:10
13
Subjective Experiments - Section XII - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XIII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour Read by Gillian Hendrie 7:13
14
Section XIV - Conditions Under Which the Appearance of Colour Increases Read by Lynne T 5:23
15
Section XV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena Read by Michelle Tan 12:01
16
Section XVI - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XVII - Grey Objects Displaced by Refraction Read by Lynne T 6:53
17
Section XVIII - Coloured Objects Displaced by Refraction Read by Gillian Hendrie 19:50
18
Section XIX - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism; Section XX - Advantages of Subjective Experiments. - Transition to the Objective Read by DrPGould 11:02
19
Objective Experiments - Section XXI - Refraction Without the Appearance of Colour; Section XXII - Conditions of the Appearance of Colour Read by DrPGould 9:02
20
Section XXIII - Conditions of the Increase of Colour; Section XXIV - Explanation of the Foregoing Phenomena Read by DrPGould 8:27
21
Section XXV - Decrease of the Appearance of Colour; Section XXVI - Grey Objects ; Section XXVII - Coloured Objects; Section XXVIII - Achromatism and Hyperchromatism Read by Katarina Petric 11:14
22
Section XXIX - Combination of Subjective and Objective Experiments; Section XXX - Transition Read by Simona Rusu 8:24
23
Section XXXI - Catatropical Colours Read by Simona Rusu 11:11
24
Section XXXII - Paroptical Colours Read by Simona Rusu 17:22
25
Section XXXIII - Epoptical Colours Read by Simona Rusu 29:59
26
Part III - Chemical Colours - Section XXXIV - Chemical Contrast Read by jcrosbie 3:25
27
Section XXXV - White; Section XXXVI - Black; Section XXXVII - First Excitation of Colour Read by jcrosbie 10:23
28
Section XXXVIII - Augmentation of Colour; Section XXXIX - Culmination; Section XL - Fluctuation; Section XLI - Passage Through the Whole Scale Read by ToddHW 9:25
29
Section XLII - Inversion; Section XLIII - Fixation; Section XLIV - Intermixture, Real; Section XLV - Intermixture, Apparent Read by ToddHW 10:59
30
Section XLVI - Communication, Actual; Section XLVII - Communication, Apparent Read by ToddHW 8:26
31
Section XLVIII - Extraction; Section XLIX - Nomenclature Read by Suzie 12:41
32
Section L - Minerals; Section LI - Plants Read by Chris Gray 9:45
33
Section LII - Worms, Insects, Fishes; Section LIII - Birds Read by Gillian Hendrie 12:31
34
Section LIV - Mammalia and Human Beings Read by jenno 15:32
35
Section LV - Physical and Chemical Effects of the Transmission of Light Through Coloured Mediums; Section LVI - Chemical Effect in Dioptrical Achromatism; Read by Chris Gray 7:59
36
Part IV - General Characteristics Read by brianna 18:10
37
Part V - Relation to Other Pursuits Read by Lynne T 30:04
38
Part VI - Effect of Colour With Reference to Moral Associations; Yellow; Red-Yellow; Yellow-Red; Blue; Red-Blue; Red; Green Read by Availle 18:15
39
Completeness and Harmony; Yellow and Blue; Yellow and Red; Blue and Red; Yellow-Red and Blue-Red; Combinations Non-Characteristic; Relations of the Combinations to Light and Dark; Considerations Derived from the Evidence of Experience and History Read by Availle 19:20
40
Aesthetic Influence; Chiaro-Scuro; Tendency to Colour; Keeping; Colour in General Nature; Characteristic Colouring Read by Availle 14:47
41
Harmonious Colouring; Genuine Tone; False Tone; Weak Colouring; The Motley; Dread of Theory; Ultimate Aim; Grounds; Pigments Read by Availle 13:10
42
Allegorical, Symbolic, Mystical Application of Color; Concluding Observations Read by Availle 8:56
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
