A very brief history of colour metaphysics

Abstract These are five playfully pessimistic meditations on the metaphysics of colour, arguing that metaphysical thinking does not fit well with the beautiful universe of colours: Neither Platonism nor relativism nor reductionism nor the distinction between primary and secondary qualities nor the denial of the existence of some colours at the expense of others offers convincing ways of dealing with the phenomena of colour. In the final, sixth meditation the standard analysis of magenta is challenged with some unorthodox ideas that can be traced back to Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s colour research.