Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) was a great German poet, philosopher, and natural scientist; the breadth of his interests, depth of knowledge, and originality of his thinking are astonishing. This abridged edition of his 'Theory of Color' is offered to readers. While arguing with Isaac Newton's observations, the author actually views color quite differently: not from the standpoint of physics (the optical spectrum studied by Newton); no, Goethe is interested in the peculiarities of human color perception, as well as the various natural phenomena that influence this perception. Goethe's observations lie more in the realm of human physiology and psychology and have not lost their value to this day.
In addition to the 'Theory of Color,' the 'Theory of Knowledge' section contains articles, sketches, and aphorisms by J. W. Goethe, which help to better understand the personality of the great poet and thinker.