Estevão Cabral (1734-1811) against Newton
notes on his unpublished memoir on the nature of light
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11606/khronos.v0i9.170754Keywords:
Estevão Cabral, Newton, Portugal, Optics, LightAbstract
In this paper, I discuss in detail the manuscript “Brief reflections on the nature and properties of light, or on the two systems of vibration and emission, Cartesian and Newtonian”, written by Estevão Cabral (1734-1811), non-published at the time, and available nowadays at the archives of the library of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, in Portugal. The undated manuscript brings a strong criticism on the emission theory of light – in other words, the Newtonian optics –, while it puts in relief the superiority of the vibrational theory. Since the specialized literature often considers the favorable reception of Newton in Portuguese lands, Cabral’s manuscript seems to be a remarkable exception.
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Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
Grant numbers 2018/21711-6 -
Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
Grant numbers 400118/2016-5