Theodoric of Freiberg (c. 1250 – c. 1310) was born in Freiberg in Saxony
around the year 1250. He is sometimes referred to as “Dietrich of
Saxony,” and often as “Theodoricus Teutonicus.
He studied at the University of Paris, gaining a Master of Theology. He
joined the Dominican order at a young age. Dietrich was a prolific
writer. His writings include compositions on nearly every branch of
theology, philosophy, and natural science known to his period.
In his treatise De iride et de radialibus impressionibus, Theodoric
gave an interpretation of the rainbow as a result of refraction of light
in its spectrum of colours, even though he was not actually a
scientist, nor in particular an experimentalist, and as a consequence he
did not master the experimental method; nevertheless, he showed an
attitude to research with a properly scientific object
Both Theodoric and Descartes showed that the rainbow is made up of rays
that enter a droplet and are reflected once from the inner surface.
Theodoric of Freiberg also wrote works on theology, philosophy, optics,
and astronomy.
Theodoric of Freiberg
