When asked about Goethe's theory of colors, a physicist often says it is nonsense. And in a way he is right. From the point of view of physics Goethe's ideas make no sense. But then one misses the point. Goethe's way of approaching nature is pure phenomenology. It is not intended to be modern physics. It's aim is to follow the observable phenomena and this is the basis for the objectivity of his method. In the case of experiments with prisms, what is factually observable, is colors appearing at the borders of light and darkness, depending on the arrangement of light and dark and the position of the prism. This is the starting point of a phenomenological study of prismatic colors. From a phenomenological point of view darkness (black) plays an equally important role in the appearance of colors as does light (white).

Goethe had developed his method by following phenomena, engaging with them intensively and extensively, letting them tell their story without imposing his own hesitated ideas and theories upon them. He then began to understand that phenomena of certain kind always appeared when certain conditions or circumstances were met. He understood that circumstances were not something external to the phenomenon, but actually an integral part of it. A phenomenon for Goethe was not just something occurring outside a human being, but something continuing its presence in his consciousness as meaning. ”Search nothing beyond the phenomena, they themselves are the theory.”

But where did Goethe get the idea that prismatic and atmospheric colors were the joint products of light and darkness?