vii GOETHE'S BOTANICAL WRITINGS ‘The random order of the essays in Goethe's morphological journal has been dropped in favor of organization by content, che original order being indicated in the bibliographical notes. Within’ the organizational headings, an effort was made to present the essays chronologically by date of composition, although this plan could not be followed through- out, either because exact dates were unknown or becatse the chronologi- cal order did violence to the subject mattet. Some essays without direct reference to botany, those comprising the section entitled "On General Theory,” were included as being representative of the basic viewpoint of the botanical work. ‘The infrequent starred footnotes are Goethe's; the remaining ones, with the usual superior numerals, are my own. Some of them were sug. ‘gested by Bolsche's commentaries, others by Dr. Engard, but for the most pare chey represent material ceadily available in encyclopedias and numet- ‘ous Goethe biogtaphies.. A chronology of principal events in Goethe's life has been included, inasmuch as, by his own admission, he omitted “such superfluous hings as dates” from che essays on the history of his plane studies, Plates and illustrations were adapted from Wilhelm Troll’s Goethes Morphologische Schriften (Bugen Diederichs Verlag in Jena), with the permission of the publishers. ‘To Professor Maria Hrmann, friend and colleague of long standing, J should like to acknowledge my debt for willing help at all times with dlicult passages and for graciousness in the unrewarding role of sounding board as the translator engaged in thinking alond; 10 her husband, Dr. Arthur Hétmana, for various valuable suggestions; to Beatrice ‘Krauss, of the Hawaiian Pineapple Research Institute, for ready assistance with botanical terms, especially after Dr. Engurd’s death; to several mem- hors of the University of Hawaii Press—w Thomas Nickerson, directo, fot gentle prodding and larger forms of encouragement; to Aldyth Mortis for long and pleasant hours of collaboration during editing of the mant- script; to William Ellis for a book design worthy of a Goethe who was ‘not insensitive to the physical appearance of books and who has recorded his pleasure on the publication of hhis essay on the metamorphosis of plants “elegantly printed in Roman letters." Finally, I should like to acknowledge my debt to Dr. Engard for suggesting a project holding such challenge and interes, and for infinite tact and patience in explain. ing technical details to a botanically unvetsed Germanist. BaRTHA MUELLER University of Hawaii June, 1952 TasLe or ConTENTS Translator's Preface : nae Introduction. . ON MORPHOLOGY Formation and Transformation... ‘Metamorphosis of Plants. 1 IL m. Vv. Vv. XIL xu XIV. XV. XVL. XVI, XVII. Introduction. 6.7... Concerning the Seed Leaves | | | Development of Stem Leaves from Node to ‘Transition to Infiorescence. . . . . Formation of the Calyx 2 1 1 | Formation of the Corolla. | | | Formation of Staminal Organs | | Necuries . . . ae Additional Notes on the Staminal Organs Formation of the Style... . .. TheFnis. 2. ‘The Proximate Hiulls of the Seed | Recapitulation and Transition Buds and Their Development Formation of Compound Flowers and Fruits | ‘The Perfoliate Rose... ‘The Perfoliate Pink . vee Linné’s Theory of Anticipation. | Recapitulation Metamorphosis of Plants—Second Essay... |. An Atempt to Evolve a General Comparative Theory Preliminary Notes for a Physiology of Plants. Later Studies and Collections Pee Pollination, Volatilization, and Exudation . Increasing Dificulty of Botanical Instruction Remarkable Healing of a Badly Injured Tree Problems ‘An Unjust Demand Book Reviews wi a 30 31 33 37 2 42 44 47 33. 37 61 6 67 6 B B 4 16 8 81 85 96 105 4 115, 16 8 9x GOETHR’S BOTANICAL WRITINGS The Spiral Tendency. . ete On the Spiral Tendency in Plants | | | | ON HIS PLANT STUDIES ‘The Author Relates the History of His Botanical Studies . Genesis of the Essay on the Metamorphosis of Plants . History of the Manuscript... i History of the Brochure ia Prine. My Discovery of a Worthy Forerunner ‘Thiee Favorable Reviews . Other Friendly Overtures. . . Notes for an Essay on Plant Culture in the Grand Deer of Weimar ‘An Analogous Procedure... qi ‘The Influence of My Publication. ON GENERAL THEORY Propitious Encounter Indecision and Surrender... ‘The Objective and the Subjective Reconciled by Means of the Expetimene . Experience and Science : Influence of the New Philosophy Intuitive Judgment... The Crestive Urge. Considerable Assistance from One Ingesaly Chosen Word | Analysis and Synthesis... ane Excutsus Friendly Gesture. Pilea for Unity and Cooperation . Nature (A Fragment)... ‘Commentaty on “Nature” Biographical Notes Bibliographical Note . Selected Bibliography . 127 131 149 165 167 170 176 181 182 186 i91 195 215 219 220 227 228 232 233 235 238 240 240 241 242 244 249 235 258Higher natures have the gift of always seeing the finite world symbolically Hess InTRopuUCTION ‘Wen JOHANN WOLFGANG Gostae arrived in Weimar in the datk- ness of predawn on November 7, 1775, he was already famous as a lit- ‘erary figure, but none could have foretold the prominent part he was also destined to play in the rise of a great scientific era With Gétz con Berlichingen in 1773 he had established himself as the leading representative of the Storm and Stress movement then at ite height in Germany; and with Werther in 1774, which created a sensation ‘throughout Europe, he had established his reputation abroad. Dressed in the costume of his own Werther, the young and handsome Goethe captivated the court citcle of Weimar. His friend Karl Knebel vwrote that Goethe "rose like a star in the heavens, Everybody worshipped hhim, especially the women.” ‘The Dowager Duchess Amalia, fascinated by his talent and exuberance, fell completely under his charm, Yet this ‘was the man who later was to have a genus of plants (Goethea) and a mineral (goethite) named for hin; who was to coin and be the first to use the word morphology; who was to contribute to our understanding of the physiology of color; who was to rediscover and describe the inter: maxillary bone in man, propound the vertebral theory of the skull, for ‘ulate a concept in botanical morphology that persists to this day, dis- cover the volcanic origin of a mountain, establish the first system of weather stations; who was to be among the first co use the comparative method in biology, to make the first systematic classification of minerals; and, finally, was to come unwittingly close to achieving the fundamental con. ‘cept of orgenic evolution. ‘The year of Goethe's attival in Weimat was a critical one politically throughout the western world. In America the battles of Concord and Lexington hed been fought in April, and war had been declared on England in July. In France sentiment for the rights of man was grow- ing; Louis XVI, destined to plunge France into bankruptcy, had become king the year before. The storming of the Bastille was fourteen years away. In science the pneumochemists were active, and only in March of 1775 had Priestly communicated to the Royal Society in London his dis. covery of “dephlogisticated” air (oxygen). In the same year Black discov. ‘ered “fixed” ait (carbon dioxide), In America Benjamin Franklin had 3 D. HL HILL LIBRARY