Goethe’s Naturphilosophie

This thesis takes Goethe s botanical treatise The Metamorphosis of Plants and thehomonymous poetry as examples of study. The chief study method is intertextuality.The study proceeds from Goethe s theory of leaf. Then it will make a furtherexploration of wisdom All the shapes are similar in the poetry together with thepersonal expressions and humanity. Ultimately at the background of the naturalphilosophical history, Goethe s integral Naturphilosophie will be revealed.The thesis consists of five chapters. Chapter1introduces the relationship ofGoethe s scientific study and his literary creation referring to the intertextuality of thetwo botanical texts. At the same time, the innovativeness that Goethe sNaturphilosophie is indicated through the comparison of the texts will be emphasized.Chapter2starts from three aspects to study the treatise: the theory of leaf, thescientific method of mental observation, the poeticizing scientific language andwriting style, and comes to the conclusion: All is leaf. Chapter3defines the form ofthe poetry as elegiac didactic poetry. The analysis of the form and connotation of thepoetry will be united with the creation background to prove that the wisdom of poetryis sublimation of the scientific theory. Chapter4will review the history of GermanNaturphilosophie and its influence on Goethe to approve his integral Naturphilosophie.Chapter5summarizes the whole thesis.