Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
4-25-2025
Keywords
Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn al-Haytham (Ibn al-Haytham), Arab Muslim, astronomer, astronomy, Book of Optics, celestial physics, Euclid, experiments, eye, father of optics, hypotheses, Iraq, light, mathematician, mathematics, medieval Europe, optics, philosopher, Ptolemy, scientist, Second Ptolemy, theoretical physicists, verifiable methods, vision, visual perception
Disciplines
Astrophysics and Astronomy | Developmental Psychology
Abstract
Abū ʿAlī al-Ḥasan ibn al-Ḥasan ibn al-Haytham was an Arab Muslim born around 965 CE and died circa 1040 CE in current-day Iraq. A scientist, astronomer, philosopher, and mathematician, he is particularly known for his work in astronomy, mathematics, visual perception, and optics. In medieval Europe, he was referred to as the “Second Ptolemy”. As the first to determine that vision results from light being reflected from an object to the eye, he is often referred to as “the father of optics”. He is also praised for being among the first theoretical physicists. He was one of the first scientists to support the notion that hypotheses must be evidenced by either mathematics or experiments designed with verifiable methods.
Recommended Citation
Pirooz, Mithra H. and Santo, Jonathan B., "Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen)" (2025). Essays in Developmental Psychology. 84.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/edp/84