Lect. IX.] GOETHE OX THE TELEOLOGISTS. 223 



" ' It is natural to man,' said Goethe, ' to regard himself as the 

 final cause of creation, and to consider all other things merely in 

 relation to himself, so far as they are of use to him, . , . He 

 cannot conceive that even the smallest herb Avas not made for him; 

 and if he had not yet ascertained its utility, he believes that he may 

 discover it in future. Then, too, as man thinks in general, so does 

 he always think in particular, and he does not fail to transfer his 

 ordinary views from life into science, and to ask the use and purpose 

 of every single part of our organic being. 



" ' This may do for a time, and he may get on so for a time in 

 science ; but he will soon come to phenomena where this small view 

 Avill not be sufficient, and where, if he does not tale a hvjhpv stan'l, 

 he will soon be involved in mere contradictions. 



" ' The utility-teachers say that oxen have horns to defend tliem- 

 selves with ; but I ask, why is the sheep without any, and when it 

 has them, why are they twisted about the ears so as to ansAver no 

 purpose at all ? 



" ' If, on the other hand, I say the ox defends himself Avith his 

 horns because he has them, it is quite a different matter, 



" ' The question as to the purpose — the question, Wlierefore ? is 

 completely unscientific. But Ave get on further Avith the question 

 How ? For if I ask how has the ox horns, I am led to study his 

 organisation, and learn at the same time Avliy the lion has no horns, 

 and cannot have any, 



" ' Thus, man has in his skull tAvo holloAvs Avhicli are never filled 

 up. The question loherefore could not take us far in this case, but 

 the question how informs me that these holloAvs are remains of the 

 animal skull, Avhich are found on a larger scale in inferior organisa- 

 tions, and are not quite obliterated in man, Avith all his eminence, 



" * The teachers of utility Avould think that they lost their God, if 

 they did not Avorship Him who gave the ox horns to defend itself. 

 But I hope I may be alloAved to Avorship Him, Avho, in the abundance 

 of His creation, Avas great enough, after making a thousand kinds of 

 plants, to make one more, in Avhich all the rest should be comprised ; 

 and after a thousand kinds of animals, a being which covijyrises them 

 all — Ma?i. 



" ' Let people serve Him who gives to the beast his fodder, and to 

 man meat and drink as much as he can enjoy. But / Avorship Him 



