Lect. IX.] GOETHE OX THE TELE0L0GIST8. 223 



" ' It is natural to man,' said Goethe, ' to regard Idmsclf 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 was 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 \\q\v 

 will not be sufficient, and where, if lie does not talie a liiyher dand^ 

 he will soon be involved in mere contradictions. 



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

 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 answer no 

 purpose at all ? 



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

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



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

 completely unscientific. But we get on further with 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 why the lion has no horns, 

 and cannot have any. 



" ' Thus, man has in his skull two hollows which are never filled 

 up. The question wherefore could not take us far in this case, l^ut 

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

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

 tions, and are not quite obliterated in man, M^tli all his eminence. 



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

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

 But I hope I may be allowed to worship Him, who, in tlie abundance 

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

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

 and after a thousand kinds of animals, a being which comi^rises them 

 all — Man. 



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

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



