Unraveling the rainbow

Unweaving the Rainbow: Science, Delusion and the Appetite for Wonder - a book by Richard Dawkins , written in 1998, that discusses the relationship between science and art with scientist's point of view.

Dawkins turns to the fallacy that science coldly stifles, promotes dry and bleak ideas. Many readers of his books “The Selfish Gene” and “The Blind Watchmaker ” were indignant at his naturalistic view of the world, which supposedly makes life meaningless, and Dawkins felt the need to explain that, as a scientist, he also sees a world full of miracles and joys.

His starting point is the well-known statement by John Keats that Isaac Newton destroyed the poetry of the rainbow, "decomposing it into prismatic colors." ^[1] The purpose of the book is to show the reader that science does not destroy, but rather opens poetry in nature.

Richard Dawkins, Unleashing a Rainbow :

This book owes its name to Keats, who believed that Newton destroyed all the poetry of the rainbow, decomposing it into primary colors. Keats could hardly have been more wrong, and my goal is to bring everyone who is seduced by such a view to the opposite conclusion.

Original text

My title is from Keats, who believed that Newton had destroyed all the poetry of the rainbow by reducing it to the prismatic colors. Keats could hardly have been more wrong, and my aim is to guide all who are tempted by a similar view towards the opposite conclusion.