Goethe's Plant Morphology: The Seeds of Evolution
Abstract
It has long been debated whether
the scientific writing of Johann
Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
provided the seeds for the theory of
evolution. Scholars have argued both
sides with equal passion. German
biologist and philosopher, Ernst Haeckel
(1834-1919) wrote, “Jean and Lamarck
and Wolfgang Goethe stand at the head
of all the great philosophers of nature
who first established a theory of organic
development, and who are the illustrious
fellow workers of Darwin.”1 Taking the
opposite stance was Chancellor of Berlin
University, Emil du Bois Reymond
(1818-1896). Du Bois was embarrassed
by Goethe's forays into science. He
wrote, “Beside the poet, the scientist
Goethe fades into the background. Let
us at long last put him to rest.”2 I argue
that Goethe's scientific writings carry in
them the seeds of the theory of evolution.
Goethe's works on plant morphology
reflects the conflicting ideas of his era on
the discreteness and on the stability of
species. Goethe's theory of plant
morphology provides a link between the
discontinuous view of nature...
Citation
Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, Volume 1, Number 1, pp. 1-15