GOETHE AS A NATURALIST. 8 1 



Goethe, who, among all, stands in the closest relations to us 

 Germans. However, before I explain his special services 

 to the theory of development, it seems to me necessary 

 to say a few words about his importance as a naturalist in 

 general, as it is commonly very little known. 



I am sure most of my readers honour Goethe only as a 

 poet and a man ; only a few have any conception of the high 

 value of his scientific works, and of the gigantic stride with 

 which he advanced before his own age — advanced so much 

 that most naturalists of that time were unable to follow 

 him. In several passages of his scientific writings he 

 bitterly complains of the narrow-mindedness of professed 

 naturalists, who do not know how to value his works (who 

 cannot see the wood for the trees), and who cannot rouse 

 themselves to discover the general laws of nature among the 

 mass of details. He is only too just when he utters the 

 reproach — "The philosophers will very soon discover that 

 observers rarely rise to a stand-point from which they can 

 survey so many important objects." It is true, at the same 

 time, that their want of appreciation was caused by the 

 false road into which Goethe was led in his theory of colours. 

 This theory of colours, which he himself designates as 

 the favourite production of his leisure, however much 

 that is beautiful it may contain, is a complete failure in 

 regard to its foundations. The exact mathematical method 

 by means of which alone it is possible, in inorganic 

 sciences, but above all in physics, to raise a structure 

 step by step on a thoroughly firm basis, was altogether re- 

 pugnant to Goethe. In rejecting it he allowed himself not 

 only to be very unjust towards the most eminent phy- 

 sicists, but to be led into errors which have greatly injured 



