Kalderon, Mark E; (2022) Timaeus on Colour Mixture. In: Caston, Victor, (ed.) Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy: Volume LXI. (pp. 63-101). Oxford University Press (OUP): Oxford, UK.

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Abstract

This paper consists in a trick and a potential insight. The trick consists in a minimalist interpretation of colour mixture in the sense that, given certain background assumptions, there is no more to Timaeus’ account of colour mixture than the list of the chromatic affections (pathēmata) and the list of how these combine to elicit perceptions of all the colours. The only potential controversial elements of the minimalist interpretation are the relevant background assumptions and the interpretation of the chromatic affections. The potential insight concerns a motive that Plato, in the guise of Timaeus, may have for presenting an account of colour mixture. Specifically, the paper argues that on the minimalist interpretation, Plato may be read as reconciling the Democritrean four-colour scheme with an older tradition where white and black are the fundamental chromatic opposition. It also shows that this bears on the interpretation of the chromatic affections.

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