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Alexander von Humboldt: „Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin on the 18th September 1828. Communicated by a Correspondent“, in: ders., Sämtliche Schriften digital, herausgegeben von Oliver Lubrich und Thomas Nehrlich, Universität Bern 2021. URL: <https://humboldt.unibe.ch/text/1828-xxx_Rede_gehalten_bei-09-neu> [abgerufen am 02.05.2024].
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| Titel | Account of the great Congress of Philosophers at Berlin on the 18th September 1828. Communicated by a Correspondent | ||||
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| Jahr | 1829 | ||||
| Ort | Edinburgh; London | ||||
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Nachweis in: The Edinburgh Journal of Science 10:11 (April 1829), S. 225–234.
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| Sprache | Englisch | ||||
| Typografischer Befund | Antiqua; Auszeichnung: Kursivierung; Fußnoten mit Asterisken; Schmuck: Kapitälchen; Tabellensatz. | ||||
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|227|
Since through your choice, which does me so much honour,I am permitted to open this meeting, the first duty which Ihave to discharge is one of gratitude. The distinction whichhas been conferred on him who has never yet been able to at-tend your excellent Society, is not the reward of scientific ef-forts, or of feeble and persevering attempts to discover newphenomena, or to draw the light of knowledge from the unex-plored depths of nature. A finer feeling, however, directedyour attention to me. You have assured me, that while, dur-ing an absence of many years, and in a distant quarter of theglobe, I was labouring in the same cause with yourselves, Iwas not a stranger in your thoughts. You have likewisegreeted my return home, that, by the sacred tie of gratitude,you might bind me still longer and closer to our commoncountry.
What, however, can the picture of this our native land pre-sent more agreeable to the mind than the assembly which wereceive to day for the first time within our walls; from thebanks of the Neckar, the birth-place of Kepler and of Schiller,to the remotest border of the Baltic plains; from hence to themouths of the Rhine, where, under the beneficent influenceof commerce, the treasures of exotic nature have for centuriesbeen collected and investigated, the friends of nature, inspiredwith the same zeal, and, urged by the same passion, flock toge-
|228| ther to this assembly. Everywhere, where the German lan-guage is used, and its peculiar structure affects the spirit anddisposition of the people. From the Great European Alps tothe other side of the Weichsel, where, in the country of Co-pernicus, astronomy rose to renewed splendour; everywherein the extensive dominions of the German nation we attemptto discover the secret operations of nature, whether in theheavens, or in the deepest problems of mechanics, or in the in-terior of the earth, or in the finely woven tissues of organicstructure.
Protected by noble princes, this assembly has annually in-creased in interest and extent. Every distinction which diffe-rence of religion or form of government can occasion is hereannulled. Germany manifests itself as it were in its intellec-tual unity; and since knowledge of truth and performance ofduty are the highest object of morality, that feeling of unityweakens none of the bonds which the religion, constitution,and laws of our country, have rendered dear to each of us.Even this emulation in mental struggles has called forth (asthe glorious history of our country tells us,) the fairest blos-soms of humanity, science, and art.
The assembly of German naturalists and natural philoso-phers since its last meeting, when it was so hospitably receivedat Munich, has, through the flattering interest of neighbour-ing States and Academies, shone with peculiar lustre. Alliednations have renewed the ancient alliance between Germanyand the ancient Scandinavian North.
Such an interest deserves acknowledgment the more, be-cause it unexpectedly increases the mass of facts and opinionswhich are here brought into one common and useful union. Italso recalls lofty recollections into the mind of the naturalist.Scarcely half a century has elapsed since Linné appears in theboldness of the undertakings which he has attempted and ac-complished, as one of the greatest men of the last century.His glory, however bright, has not rendered Europe blind tothe merits of Scheele and Bergman. The catalogue of thesegreat names is not completed; but lest I shall offend noblemodesty, I dare not speak of the light which is still flowingin richest profusion from the North, nor mention the disco-
|229| veries in the chemical nature of substances, in the numericalrelation of their elements, or the eddying streams of electro-magnetic powers.* May those excellent persons, who, deter-red neither by perils of sea or land, have hastened to ourmeeting from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Holland, England,and Poland, point out the way to other strangers in succeed-ing years, so that by turns every part of Germany may enjoythe effects of scientific communication with the different na-tions of Europe.
But although I must restrain the expression of my personalfeelings in presence of this assembly, I must be permitted atleast to name the patriarchs of our national glory, who are de-tained from us by a regard for those lives so dear to their coun-try;—Goethe, whom the great creations of poetical fancy havenot prevented from penetrating the arcana of nature, and whonow in rural solitude mourns for his princely friend, as Ger-many for one of her greatest ornaments;—Olbers, who has dis-covered two bodies where he had already predicted they wereto be found;—the greatest anatomists of our age—Soemmer-ing, who, with equal zeal, has investigated the wonders of or-ganic structure, and the spots and faculœ of the sun, (con-densations and openings in the photosphere;) Blumenbach,whose pupil I have the honour to be, who, by his works andhis immortal eloquence, has inspired everywhere a love forcomparative anatomy, physiology, and the general historyof nature, and who has laboured diligently for half a cen-tury. How could I resist the temptation to adorn my dis-course with names which posterity will repeat, as we are notfavoured with their presence?
These observations on the literary wealth of our native coun-try, and the progressive developement of our institution, leadus naturally to the obstructions which will arise from the in-creasing number of our fellow-labourers. The chief ob-ject of this assembly does not consist, as in other societieswhose sphere is more limited, in the mutual interchange oftreatises, or in innumerable memoirs, destined to be printed insome general collection. The principal object of this Societyis to bring those personally together who are engaged in the
* The philosophers here referred to are Berzelius and Oersted.|230| same field of science. It is the immediate, and therefore moreobvious interchange of ideas, whether they present themselvesas facts, opinions, or doubts. It is the foundation of friendlyconnection which throws light on science, adds cheerfulness tolife, and gives patience and amenity to the manners. In the most flourishing period of ancient Greece, the dis-tinction between words and writing first manifested itself moststrongly amongst a race, which had raised itself to the mostsplendid intellectual superiority, and to whose latest descen-dants, as preserved from the shipwreck of nations, we still con-secrate our most anxious wishes. It was not the difficulty ofinterchange of ideas alone, nor the want of German science,which has spread thought as on wings through the world, andinsured it a long continuance, that then induced the friends ofphilosophy and natural history in Magna Græcia and AsiaMinor to wander on long journies. That ancient race knewthe inspiring influence of conversation as it extemporaneous-ly, freely, and prudently penetrates the tissue of scientific opin-ions and doubts. The discovery of the truth without differ-ence of opinion is unattainable, because the truth in its great-est extent can never be recognized by all, and at the same time.Each step, which seems to bring the explorer of nature nearerto his object, only carries him to the threshold of new laby-rinths. The mass of doubt does not diminish, but spreadslike a moving cloud over other and new fields; and whoeverhas called that a golden period, when difference of opinions, or,as some are accustomed to express it, the disputes of the learn-ed will be finished, has as imperfect a conception of the wantsof science, and of its continued advancement, as a person whoexpects that the same opinions in geognosy, chemistry, or phy-siology, will be maintained for several centuries. The founders of this society, with a deep sense of the unityof nature, have combined in the completest manner all thebranches of physical knowledge, and the historical, geometri-cal, and experimental philosophy. The names of natural his-torian and natural philosopher are here, therefore, nearly syno-nymous, chained by a terrestrial link to the type of the loweranimals. Man completes the scale of higher organization. Inhis physiological and pathological qualities, he scarcely pre-sents to us a distinct class of beings. As to what has brought |231| him to this exalted object of physical study, and has raisedhim to general scientific investigation, belongs principally tothis society. Important as it is not to break that link whichembraces equally the investigation of organic and inorganicnature, still the increasing ties and daily development ofthis institution renders it necessary, besides the general meet-ing which is destined for these halls, to have specific meetingsfor single branches of science. For it is only in such con-tracted circles,—it is only among men whom reciprocity ofstudies has brought together, that verbal discussions can takeplace: Without this sort of communication, would the volun-tary association of men in search of truth be deprived of an in-spiring principle. Among the preparations which are made in this city for theadvancement of the society, attention has been principally paidto the possibility of such a subdivision into sections. The hopethat these preparations will meet with your approbation im-poses upon me the duty of reminding you, that, although youhad entrusted to two travellers, equally, the duty of makingthese arrangements, yet it is to one alone, my noble friend,M. Lichtenstein that the merit of careful precaution and in-defatigable activity is due. Out of respect to the scientificspirit which animates the Society of German Naturalists andNatural Philosophy, and in acknowledgment of the utility oftheir efforts, government have seconded all our wishes withthe greatest cheerfulness. In the vicinity of the place of meeting, which has in thismanner been prepared for our general and special labours, aresituated the museums dedicated to anatomy, zoology, oryc-tognosy, and geology. They exhibit to the naturalist a richmine for observation and critical discussion. The greater num-ber of these well arranged collections have existed, like theUniversity of Berlin, scarcely twenty years. The oldest ofthem, to which the Botanical Garden (one of the richest in Eu-rope) belongs, have during this period not only been increas-ed, but entirely remodelled. The amusement and instructionderived from such institutions call to our minds, with deepfeelings of gratitude, that they are the work of that great mo-narch, who modestly and in simple grandeur, adorns every year |232| this royal city with new treasures of nature and art; and whatis of still greater value than the treasures themselves,—whatinspires every Prussian with youthful strength, and with anenthusiastic love for the ancient reigning family,—that he gra-ciously attaches to himself every species of talent, and extendswith confidence his royal protection to the free cultivation ofthe understanding.
Speech made at the opening of the Society of German Natu-ralists and Natural Philosophers at Berlin, the 18th Septem-ber 1828. By Alexander Von Humboldt.
* The philosophers here referred to are Berzelius and Oersted.|230| same field of science. It is the immediate, and therefore moreobvious interchange of ideas, whether they present themselvesas facts, opinions, or doubts. It is the foundation of friendlyconnection which throws light on science, adds cheerfulness tolife, and gives patience and amenity to the manners. In the most flourishing period of ancient Greece, the dis-tinction between words and writing first manifested itself moststrongly amongst a race, which had raised itself to the mostsplendid intellectual superiority, and to whose latest descen-dants, as preserved from the shipwreck of nations, we still con-secrate our most anxious wishes. It was not the difficulty ofinterchange of ideas alone, nor the want of German science,which has spread thought as on wings through the world, andinsured it a long continuance, that then induced the friends ofphilosophy and natural history in Magna Græcia and AsiaMinor to wander on long journies. That ancient race knewthe inspiring influence of conversation as it extemporaneous-ly, freely, and prudently penetrates the tissue of scientific opin-ions and doubts. The discovery of the truth without differ-ence of opinion is unattainable, because the truth in its great-est extent can never be recognized by all, and at the same time.Each step, which seems to bring the explorer of nature nearerto his object, only carries him to the threshold of new laby-rinths. The mass of doubt does not diminish, but spreadslike a moving cloud over other and new fields; and whoeverhas called that a golden period, when difference of opinions, or,as some are accustomed to express it, the disputes of the learn-ed will be finished, has as imperfect a conception of the wantsof science, and of its continued advancement, as a person whoexpects that the same opinions in geognosy, chemistry, or phy-siology, will be maintained for several centuries. The founders of this society, with a deep sense of the unityof nature, have combined in the completest manner all thebranches of physical knowledge, and the historical, geometri-cal, and experimental philosophy. The names of natural his-torian and natural philosopher are here, therefore, nearly syno-nymous, chained by a terrestrial link to the type of the loweranimals. Man completes the scale of higher organization. Inhis physiological and pathological qualities, he scarcely pre-sents to us a distinct class of beings. As to what has brought |231| him to this exalted object of physical study, and has raisedhim to general scientific investigation, belongs principally tothis society. Important as it is not to break that link whichembraces equally the investigation of organic and inorganicnature, still the increasing ties and daily development ofthis institution renders it necessary, besides the general meet-ing which is destined for these halls, to have specific meetingsfor single branches of science. For it is only in such con-tracted circles,—it is only among men whom reciprocity ofstudies has brought together, that verbal discussions can takeplace: Without this sort of communication, would the volun-tary association of men in search of truth be deprived of an in-spiring principle. Among the preparations which are made in this city for theadvancement of the society, attention has been principally paidto the possibility of such a subdivision into sections. The hopethat these preparations will meet with your approbation im-poses upon me the duty of reminding you, that, although youhad entrusted to two travellers, equally, the duty of makingthese arrangements, yet it is to one alone, my noble friend,M. Lichtenstein that the merit of careful precaution and in-defatigable activity is due. Out of respect to the scientificspirit which animates the Society of German Naturalists andNatural Philosophy, and in acknowledgment of the utility oftheir efforts, government have seconded all our wishes withthe greatest cheerfulness. In the vicinity of the place of meeting, which has in thismanner been prepared for our general and special labours, aresituated the museums dedicated to anatomy, zoology, oryc-tognosy, and geology. They exhibit to the naturalist a richmine for observation and critical discussion. The greater num-ber of these well arranged collections have existed, like theUniversity of Berlin, scarcely twenty years. The oldest ofthem, to which the Botanical Garden (one of the richest in Eu-rope) belongs, have during this period not only been increas-ed, but entirely remodelled. The amusement and instructionderived from such institutions call to our minds, with deepfeelings of gratitude, that they are the work of that great mo-narch, who modestly and in simple grandeur, adorns every year |232| this royal city with new treasures of nature and art; and whatis of still greater value than the treasures themselves,—whatinspires every Prussian with youthful strength, and with anenthusiastic love for the ancient reigning family,—that he gra-ciously attaches to himself every species of talent, and extendswith confidence his royal protection to the free cultivation ofthe understanding.