Journal article

Magnifying grains of sand, seeds, and blades of grass: Optical effects in Robert Grosseteste’s De iride (On the Rainbow) (circa 1228–1230)

Abstract:: In his treatise On the Rainbow (De iride), composed nearly four hundred years before the first known telescope, the English polymath Robert Grosseteste identified three striking optical effects: distant objects can be rendered close by; close-by large objects can be rendered small; and distant small objects can be rendered large. In the context of the history of optics, the first effect is especially striking. Grosseteste did not give details of the mechanisms underlying these effects but did mention the passage of rays through refraction in “diaphanous” or transparent bodies. While making no final claim that Grosseteste himself necessarily knew of or used lenses, this essay examines the coherence between the three optical effects described in Grosseteste’s treatise and two candidate proposals for the deployment of a single convex lens. A convex lens, deployed in different ways, is shown to produce all three of Grosseteste’s optical effects, in a manner strikingly aligned with the language that he uses to distinguish changes in the location and size of objects. The implications of this coherence for interpretations of On the Rainbow are discussed throughout the essay.

Publication status:: Published

Peer review status:: Peer reviewed

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APA Style

White, R., Gasper, G., McLeish, T., Tanner, B., Harvey, J., Sønnesyn, S., Young, L., & Smithson, H. (2021). Magnifying grains of sand, seeds, and blades of grass: Optical effects in Robert Grosseteste’s De iride (On the Rainbow) (circa 1228–1230). Isis, 112(1), 93–107.

MLA Style

White, RC, et al. “Magnifying Grains of Sand, Seeds, and Blades of Grass: Optical Effects in Robert Grosseteste’s De Iride (On the Rainbow) (circa 1228–1230).” Isis, vol. 112, no. 1, 2021, pp. 93–107.

Chicago Style

White, RC, G. Gasper, T. McLeish, et al. 2021. “Magnifying Grains of Sand, Seeds, and Blades of Grass: Optical Effects in Robert Grosseteste’s De Iride (On the Rainbow) (circa 1228–1230).” Isis 112 (1): 93–107.
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Files:: White_et_al_2021_Magnifying_grains_of_sand--.pdf

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Publisher copy:: 10.1086/713724

Authors

+ White, RC More by this author

Division:: MSD
Department:: Experimental Psychology
Sub department:: Experimental Psychology
Role:: Author

+ Gasper, G More by this author

Role:: Author

+ McLeish, T More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Tanner, B More by this author

Role:: Author

+ Harvey, J More by this author

Role:: Author

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Publisher:: University of Chicago Press
Journal:: Isis More from this journal
Volume:: 112
Issue:: 1
Pages:: 93-107
Publication date:: 2021-03-30
Acceptance date:: 2020-04-08
DOI:: 10.1086/713724
EISSN:: 1545-6994
ISSN:: 0021-1753

Language:: English
Keywords:: FFR
Pubs id:: 1100532
Local pid:: pubs:1100532
Deposit date:: 2020-04-17
ARK identifier:: ark:/29072/ora_61188a7bf2904bfd97bed90822e30a75

Terms of use

Copyright holder:: History of Science Society
Copyright date:: 2021
Rights statement:: © 2021 by The History of Science Society.

Licence:: Terms and Conditions of Use for Oxford University Research Archive

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