Teaching Optics: A Historico-Philosophical Perspective

Optics—the theory of light—is presented from the perspective of the theory-based science. Four separate theories have sequentially dominated in the domain of optics: Geometrical optics (theory of rays), Newtonian theory (theory of particles), physical optics (theory of waves), and modern optics (theory of photons). Three of these theories are still taught in high school today. Here we argue that when teaching about light, these theories should be presented in their discipline–culture structure, making explicit the contents of the nucleus of each theory and the corresponding elements of the body of knowledge. Presenting the historical sequence of theory exchange, rather than mere “replacement of the wrong theory,” can clarify the area of validity of each theory. The conceptual change between theories of light exemplifies the features of the nature of science and is presented drawing on the triadic structure of a scientific theory.