Morphology: Difference between revisions

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[[File:Urpflanze.jpg|thumb|[[Rudolf Steiner]], [[archetypal plant]], Watercolor 1924]]
[[File:Urpflanze.jpg|thumb|[[Rudolf Steiner]], [[archetypal plant]], Watercolor 1924]]


'''Morphology''' (from {{Greek|μορφή}} ''morphé'' "shape, form" and {{lang|grc|λόγος}} ''lógos'' "word, doctrine, reason") is the study of the [[structure]] and [[form]] of [[organism]]s. The term morphology was coined by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] in 1796 and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist [[w:Karl Friedrich Burdach]] in 1800<ref>Karl Mägdefrau: ''Geschichte der Botanik''. 1992, zweite Auflage, Verlag Gustav Fischer. ISBN 3-437-20489-0</ref>. It ''"rests on the conviction that everything that is, must also indicate and show itself. From the first physical and chemical elements to the most spiritual expression of man, we let this principle apply"''<ref>Goethe: ''[https://anthrowiki.at/Bibliothek:Goethe/Naturwissenschaft/Fragmente_zur_vergleichenden_Anatomie Fragmente zur vergleichenden Anatomie}</ref>, said Goethe, who is also considered a co-founder of comparative morphology<ref>''Strasburger Lehrbuch der Botanik''. 3th edition, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8274-1455-7</ref>. He discovered the [[w:intermaxillary bone|intermaxillary bone]] in humans in 1784. In 1790 he published his work "Attempt to explain the metamorphosis of plants".
'''Morphology''' (from {{Greek|μορφή}} ''morphé'' "shape, form" and {{lang|grc|λόγος}} ''lógos'' "word, doctrine, reason") is the study of the [[structure]] and [[form]] of [[organism]]s. The term was coined by [[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe]] in 1796 and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist [[w:Karl Friedrich Burdach|Karl Friedrich Burdach]] in 1800<ref>Karl Mägdefrau: ''Geschichte der Botanik''. 1992, zweite Auflage, Verlag Gustav Fischer. ISBN 3-437-20489-0</ref>. It ''"rests on the conviction that everything that is, must also indicate and show itself. From the first physical and chemical elements to the most spiritual expression of man, we let this principle apply"''<ref>Goethe: ''[https://anthrowiki.at/Bibliothek:Goethe/Naturwissenschaft/Fragmente_zur_vergleichenden_Anatomie Fragmente zur vergleichenden Anatomie}</ref>, said Goethe, who is also considered a co-founder of comparative morphology<ref>''Strasburger Lehrbuch der Botanik''. 3th edition, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8274-1455-7</ref>. He discovered the [[w:intermaxillary bone|intermaxillary bone]] in humans in 1784. In 1790 he published his work "Attempt to explain the metamorphosis of plants".


Of central importance for Goethe's theory of [[metamorphosis]] is the species-typical [[ideal]] [[archetype]], which has a formative effect as [[entelechy]] in every [[plant]] or [[animal]] species, which is why his morphology is also called '''idealistic morphology'''<ref>Cf. „[https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/biologie/idealistische-morphologie/33644 idealistische Morphologie“] in: [[https://www.spektrum.de spektrum.de Lexikon der Biologie])</ref>. The common ideal type of all plants is the [[archetypal plant]]; the common type of the animals is the [[archetypal animal]] - which is at least [[man]] himself.
Of central importance for Goethe's theory of [[metamorphosis]] is the species-typical [[ideal]] [[archetype]], which has a formative effect as [[entelechy]] in every [[plant]] or [[animal]] species, which is why his morphology is also called '''idealistic morphology'''<ref>Cf. „[https://www.spektrum.de/lexikon/biologie/idealistische-morphologie/33644 idealistische Morphologie“] in: [[https://www.spektrum.de spektrum.de Lexikon der Biologie])</ref>. The common ideal type of all plants is the [[archetypal plant]]; the common type of the animals is the [[archetypal animal]] - which is at least [[man]] himself.

Revision as of 16:47, 10 March 2022

Rudolf Steiner, archetypal plant, Watercolor 1924

Morphology (from Greekμορφή morphé "shape, form" and λόγος lógos "word, doctrine, reason") is the study of the structure and form of organisms. The term was coined by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1796 and independently by the German anatomist and physiologist Karl Friedrich Burdach in 1800[1]. It "rests on the conviction that everything that is, must also indicate and show itself. From the first physical and chemical elements to the most spiritual expression of man, we let this principle apply"[2], said Goethe, who is also considered a co-founder of comparative morphology[3]. He discovered the intermaxillary bone in humans in 1784. In 1790 he published his work "Attempt to explain the metamorphosis of plants".

Of central importance for Goethe's theory of metamorphosis is the species-typical ideal archetype, which has a formative effect as entelechy in every plant or animal species, which is why his morphology is also called idealistic morphology[4]. The common ideal type of all plants is the archetypal plant; the common type of the animals is the archetypal animal - which is at least man himself.

Literature

References

  1. Karl Mägdefrau: Geschichte der Botanik. 1992, zweite Auflage, Verlag Gustav Fischer. ISBN 3-437-20489-0
  2. Goethe: [https://anthrowiki.at/Bibliothek:Goethe/Naturwissenschaft/Fragmente_zur_vergleichenden_Anatomie Fragmente zur vergleichenden Anatomie}
  3. Strasburger Lehrbuch der Botanik. 3th edition, 2008. ISBN 978-3-8274-1455-7
  4. Cf. „idealistische Morphologie“ in: [spektrum.de Lexikon der Biologie)