Commentary and explanations for the visualizations will begin after line breaks like the one above this section of text. Even from a modern perspective the text is very readable, although a bit dated grammatically.Īs you read through this webpage there will be different visualizations separated by line breaks like the one below this section of text. Opticks being in English also lead to greater accessibility and comprehension amongst Newton’s contemporaries. Opticks contributed to the idea of English as a language that signified modernity and Opticks was one of the first major scientific texts that was published in English as opposed to Latin. Opticks was influential in other realms though as well, especially because of how it was published.

Opticks became immensely influential in the science community because of its numerous revelations regarding light, an oft debated topic at the time, and even in the modern day. Everything on the webpage is meant to capture some aspect of the original Opticks text, whether as a tribute, like the digitally recreated cover above, the Garamond font you see here, or as supplemental material in the form of bibliographic analysis.

This webpage was created to digitize and attempt to preserve some of the Opticks text.

Opticks was first published in 1704, and was Newton’s follow up to his more famous text Principia, which was where Newton first introduced his theories of gravitation. Welcome to the wonderful world of Isaac Newton’s Opticks: Or, a Treatise of the Reflexions, Refractions, Inflexions and Colours of Light.

Opticks by isaac newton