The Debate about Colour Naming in 19th Century German Philology is comprised of eleven essays illustrating the intensity of interest in colour naming and categorisation that arose in nineteenth century Germany. The themes of each chapter vary in their emphasis on particular theories which lie behind the 'testing' of the colour-naming capacities of 'primitive people' throughout the world, and which move towards new variants of the doctrine of 'evolution.'

This selection of work directs itself towards the growing field of Psychology and the shifting ground on which it was to form the later debates about 'colour naming and categorisation.'

These essays can be read from both a general and a specialist perspective. They are a fascinating example of the early development of the human sciences, and of the interplay between natural science, social science and ideology.