Morphological studies

Sunlit leaf of Myriocapa stipitata (Stalked Centaury) in the Jena Botanical Garden.

Image: Iris Meinel

Timeline of the development of Goethe's morphological interests and studies


Around 1760	Supervision of the silkworm farm set up by his father and activities in the garden in Frankfurt.
1768/70	preoccupation with alchemy and with questions about the beginnings and the mutability of life.
1770/71	Medicine and anatomy in Strasbourg.
1774/76	Connection to Lavater and collaboration on his Physiognomischen Fragmenten (Physiognomic Fragments).
1781	Anatomy in Jena with Loder. Own anatomical lectures at the Weimar Academy of Drawing.
1783/84	Studies on the anatomy of the skull of higher animals, (re)discovery of the intermaxillary bone in humans.
1784	Magnificent manuscript of the Versuchs aus der vergleichenden Knochenlehre daß der Zwischenknochen der obern Kinnlade dem Menschen mit den übrigen Tieren gemein sey (Attempt from the comparative theory of bones that the intermediate bone of the upper jaw is common to humans and other animals).
1785/86	Beginning of intensive study of Linné's works; investigation of the germination of seed plants in the garden house in Weimar. Since the winter of 1785/86, discussions with Batsch on “higher views of botany”.
1786	Observation of Infusoria.
1786/88	Botanical and zoological observations in Italy; question of “original plant” and individual development.
1790	Vertebral elements of the skull discovered in Venice. Publication of the Attempt to explain the metamorphosis of plants.
1790/91	Attempt on the shape of the animals.
1794	July 20: Conversation with Schiller on the metamorphosis of plants. December 17: Conversations with the Humboldt brothers and Schiller in Jena about the method of natural research.
1794/96	Osteological lectures in Jena.
1795	Plan for the publication of Observations and considerations from the science of nature and natural history.
1795/96	Drafts for a doctrine of the osteological “type”: Erster Entwurf einer allgemeinen Einleitung in die vergleichende Anatomie, ausgehend von der Osteologie (First draft of a general introduction to comparative anatomy, based on osteology) (the first three chapters are expanded in 1796).
1796	Experiments on the Wirkung des Lichts auf organische Körper (Effect of light on organic bodies). September 25. “Morphology” as a note in the diary. November 12/13. On “morphology” in correspondence with Schiller. Unpublished note on Morphology [1796?]
1796/98	Entomological studies.
1797	Trip to Switzerland, exchange with Kielmeyer “on the anatomy and physiology of organic natures”. Plan to publish scientific articles in the Propyläen; Consolidation of reflections on the relationship between nature and art.
1798	Joint studies with Schelling in Jena. Attempts to develop morphology methodologically as a scientific subfield of “physiology”. Elegy Die Metamorphose der Pflanzen (The Metamorphosis of Plants).
1798/99	Plan for a nature poem.
1799	ΑΘΡΟΙΣΜΟΣ [1799?]; later under the title Metamorphose der Tiere (Metamorphosis of Animals).
1804/05	Attention to Gall's theory of the skull (“phrenology”); attendance of Gall's lectures in Halle/Saale.
1806/07	Plan for the publication of Ideen über organische Bildung, besonders am osteologischen Typus durchgeführt (Ideas on organic formation, especially realized on the osteological type). Introductory chapter on morphology: The enterprise is excused; The intention introduced. Botanical Lectures.
1811	Examination of the mushroom stone Pietra fungaja.
1815/16	Studies on the colors of plants together with F. S. Voigt.
1817-1824	Publication of the booklets Zur Morphologie (On Morphology). Collection of older essays, contributions to the methodology and history of science and new treatises. Communication with Carus, d'Alton, Nees von Esenbeck, Martius and Ernst Meyer.
1820	Urworte. Orphisch. (Primal words. Orphic.)
1827	Grouping of the Metamorphosis poems in the context of the section God and the World of the final edition (Augabe letzter Hand).
1828	Morphological studies in Dornburg. Plan for a German-French edition of the Versuchs über die Metamorphose der Pflanzen (Attempt on the metamorphosis of plants) together with Soret. Botanical monographs.
1829/31	Studies on the Spiraltendenz der Vegetation (Spiral tendency of vegetation).
1830/32	Publication of the review Principes de Philosophie Zoologique, the second section of which appears in 1832.
1831	Publication Über den Zwischenkiefer des Menschen und der Tiere mit Tafeln (On the intermaxilla of man and animals with illustrations). Publication of the German-French edition of the Versuchs über die Metamorphose der Pflanzen (Attempt on the metamorphosis of plants).
1832	Memorandum on Plastische Anatomie (Plastic anatomy).