Schelling's philosophy, I thought, cannot be so 

 entirely empty as it was decried by some, because 

 many scientists have felt the warmth of its rays. 

 I have tried to study it, but by a short route, 

 partly because my profession was far from philosophy 

 and did not allow time to study all the series of 

 Schelling's works or other natural philosophers, 

 but partly because I was repulsed when I realized 

 the foggy uncertainty .... The great distinctness 

 of this expression and the sequence of the outstand- 

 ing ideas in this work attracted me, but also often 

 stimulated my decided opposition, for example with 

 the negation of all limits and the absence of all 

 quality. 8 



Naturphilosophie proved important for much of Baer's later 

 work, especially his studied in anthropology and the history 

 of evolution. 



Before considering those later works, however, it is 

 necessary to return to an earlier period. In the spring of 

 1816, Pander arrived in Wiirzburg, called there by Baer's 

 cheerful description of the working conditions in Dollinger's 

 laboratory. On Baer's recommendation, Pander accepted 

 Dollinger's suggestion that he study chick development." 

 Baer himself was very interested in this work but could not 

 participate in it because he felt he did not have sufficient 

 funds or time. At that time his former Dorpat professor, 

 Karl Burdach, arrived in Konigsberg and invited Baer to 

 take up the responsibilities of a prosector there. Baer 

 accepted in July 1817 and travelled to Konigsberg. 



In Konigsberg, Baer first read the practical course of 

 invertebrate comparative anatomy and by 1819 was considered 

 an Extraordinary Professor of the zoology course. In 

 subsequent years, the organization of the department of 

 comparative anatomy and the zoology museum took much of his 

 time (83). By 1826 Baer was already an Ordinary Professor of 

 anatomy and director of the anatomy museum. His administrative 



8. Ibid . , p. 248 (193) (181). 



9. Sno CUapter 12. 



!79 



