Goethean science
Encyclopedia
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
, although primarily known as a literary figure, did research in morphology
, anatomy
, and optics
, and also developed a phenomenological approach to science and to knowledge in general.
In his 1792 essay "The experiment as mediator between subject and object", Goethe developed an original philosophy of science
, which he used in his research. The essay underscores his experiential standpoint. "The human being himself, to the extent that he makes sound use of his senses, is the most exact physical apparatus that can exist."
His scientific works include his 1790 Metamorphosis of Plants
and his 1810 book Theory of Colors. His work in optics, and his polemic
s against the reigning Newtonian
theory of optics, were poorly received by the scientific establishment of his time.
Arthur Schopenhauer
expanded on Goethe's research in optics using a different methodology in his On Vision and Colors
.
Rudolf Steiner
presents Goethe's approach to science as phenomenological
in the Kürschner edition of Goethe's writings. Steiner elaborated on this in the books Goethean Science (1883) and
Theory of Knowledge Implicit in Goethe's World-Conception (1886). in which he emphasizes the need of the perceiving organ of intuition in order to grasp Goethe's biological archetype (i.e. The Typus).
Steiner's branch of Goethean Science was extended by Oskar Schmiedel
and Wilhelm Pelikan
, who did research using Steiner's interpretations.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
's discussions of Goethe's Theory of Colors were published as Bemerkungen über die Farben (Remarks on Color)
Goethe's vision of holistic science
inspired biologist and paranormal
researcher Rupert Sheldrake
.
American philosopher Walter Kaufmann argued that Freud's psychoanalysis
was a "poetic science" in Goethe's sense.
In 1998, David Seamon and Arthur Zajonc
wrote Goethe's way of science: a phenomenology
of nature
Biologist
Brian Goodwin
(1931-2009) in his book How the Leopard Changed Its Spots : The Evolution of Complexity claimed that organisms as dynamic systems are the primary agents of creative evolutionary adaptation, in the book Goodwin stated: "The ideas I am developing in this book are very much in the Goethean spirit."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was a German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath. He is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature. His works span the fields of poetry, drama, prose, philosophy, and science. His Faust has been called the greatest long...
, although primarily known as a literary figure, did research in morphology
Morphology (biology)
In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....
, anatomy
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
, and optics
Optics
Optics is the branch of physics which involves the behavior and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behavior of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light...
, and also developed a phenomenological approach to science and to knowledge in general.
In his 1792 essay "The experiment as mediator between subject and object", Goethe developed an original philosophy of science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
, which he used in his research. The essay underscores his experiential standpoint. "The human being himself, to the extent that he makes sound use of his senses, is the most exact physical apparatus that can exist."
His scientific works include his 1790 Metamorphosis of Plants
Metamorphosis of Plants
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, the great German poet and philosopher published in 1790 the seminal essay Versuch die Metamorphose der Pflanzen zu erklären, known in English as Metamorphosis of Plants. In this work, Goethe essentially discovered the homologous nature of leaf organs in plants, from...
and his 1810 book Theory of Colors. His work in optics, and his polemic
Polemic
A polemic is a variety of arguments or controversies made against one opinion, doctrine, or person. Other variations of argument are debate and discussion...
s against the reigning Newtonian
Isaac Newton
Sir Isaac Newton PRS was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian, who has been "considered by many to be the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived."...
theory of optics, were poorly received by the scientific establishment of his time.
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer
Arthur Schopenhauer was a German philosopher known for his pessimism and philosophical clarity. At age 25, he published his doctoral dissertation, On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason, which examined the four separate manifestations of reason in the phenomenal...
expanded on Goethe's research in optics using a different methodology in his On Vision and Colors
On Vision and Colors
On Vision and Colors is a treatise by Arthur Schopenhauer that was published in May 1816 when the author was 28 years old. Schopenhauer had extensively discussed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe about the poet's Theory of Colours of 1810, in the months around the turn of the years 1813 and 1814,...
.
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Steiner
Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner was an Austrian philosopher, social reformer, architect, and esotericist. He gained initial recognition as a literary critic and cultural philosopher...
presents Goethe's approach to science as phenomenological
Phenomenology (science)
The term phenomenology in science is used to describe a body of knowledge that relates empirical observations of phenomena to each other, in a way that is consistent with fundamental theory, but is not directly derived from theory. For example, we find the following definition in the Concise...
in the Kürschner edition of Goethe's writings. Steiner elaborated on this in the books Goethean Science (1883) and
Theory of Knowledge Implicit in Goethe's World-Conception (1886). in which he emphasizes the need of the perceiving organ of intuition in order to grasp Goethe's biological archetype (i.e. The Typus).
Steiner's branch of Goethean Science was extended by Oskar Schmiedel
Oskar Schmiedel
Oskar Schmiedel was a pharmacist, Anthroposophist, therapist, Goethean scientist and Theosophist.-Life:...
and Wilhelm Pelikan
Wilhelm Pelikan
Wilhelm Pelikan was a chemist, anthroposophist, pharmacist, gardener and anthroposophical medicine practitioner.-Life:...
, who did research using Steiner's interpretations.
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Wittgenstein
Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein was an Austrian philosopher who worked primarily in logic, the philosophy of mathematics, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of language. He was professor in philosophy at the University of Cambridge from 1939 until 1947...
's discussions of Goethe's Theory of Colors were published as Bemerkungen über die Farben (Remarks on Color)
Goethe's vision of holistic science
Holism in science
Holism in science, or Holistic science, is an approach to research that emphasizes the study of complex systems. This practice is in contrast to a purely analytic tradition which aims to gain understanding of systems by dividing them into smaller composing elements and gaining understanding of the...
inspired biologist and paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
researcher Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake
Rupert Sheldrake is an English scientist. He is known for having proposed an unorthodox account of morphogenesis and for his research into parapsychology. His books and papers stem from his theory of morphic resonance, and cover topics such as animal and plant development and behaviour, memory,...
.
He went to an Anglican boarding school and then took biology at Cambridge, studying "life" by killing animals and then grinding them up to extract their DNA. This was troubling. Rescue came when a friend turned him on to Goethe. This old German's 18th century vision of "holistic science" appealed to the young Brit very much. Sheldrake used Goethe to investigate how the lilies of the field actually become lilies of the field.
American philosopher Walter Kaufmann argued that Freud's psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
was a "poetic science" in Goethe's sense.
In 1998, David Seamon and Arthur Zajonc
Arthur Zajonc
Arthur Guy Zajonc is a professor of physics at Amherst College in Massachusetts. He is also a noted anthroposophist who served as the General Secretary of the Anthroposophical Society in America...
wrote Goethe's way of science: a phenomenology
Phenomenology (science)
The term phenomenology in science is used to describe a body of knowledge that relates empirical observations of phenomena to each other, in a way that is consistent with fundamental theory, but is not directly derived from theory. For example, we find the following definition in the Concise...
of nature
Biologist
Biologist
A biologist is a scientist devoted to and producing results in biology through the study of life. Typically biologists study organisms and their relationship to their environment. Biologists involved in basic research attempt to discover underlying mechanisms that govern how organisms work...
Brian Goodwin
Brian Goodwin
Brian Carey Goodwin was a Canadian mathematician and biologist, a Professor Emeritus at the Open University and a key founder of the field of theoretical biology.He made key contributions to the foundations of biomathematics, complex systems and generative models in developmental biology...
(1931-2009) in his book How the Leopard Changed Its Spots : The Evolution of Complexity claimed that organisms as dynamic systems are the primary agents of creative evolutionary adaptation, in the book Goodwin stated: "The ideas I am developing in this book are very much in the Goethean spirit."