The Wholeness of Nature : Goethe's Way Toward a Science of Conscious Participation in Nature

by Henri Bortoft

Whereas most readers are familiar with Goethe as a poet and dramatist, few are familiar with his scientific work. In this brilliant book, Henri Bortoft (who began his studies of Goethean science with J. G. Bennett and David Bohm) introduces the fascinating scientific theories of Goethe. He succeeds in showing that Goethe's way of doing science was not a poet's folly but a genuine alternative to the dominant scientific paradigm. Bortoft shows that a different, "gentler" kind of empiricism is possible than that demanded by the dualizing mind of modern technological science and demonstrates that Goethe's participatory phenomenology of a new way of seeing--while far from being a historical curiosity--in fact proposes a practical solution to the dilemmas of contemporary, postmodern science. If you read only one book on Goethan science, this should be the one!

Genres: Philosophy, Science, Nonfiction, Nature, Psychology

407 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1996

Reviews

[Frank Bierbrauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing book. No words can express what this book does. It is written by a philosopher who studied the concept of "wholeness" with David Bohm, the famous physicist who wrote "Wholeness and the Implicate Order". A great deal lies hidden here, with enormous life experience and background research. It remains the book to read when trying to understand what wholeness means, how is it different from mechanism, reductionism, materialism etc. Then how do you express it without making use of mechanistci ideas? How do you treat it when the language you are speaking is itself full of the symbolism which hides wholeness from you. A very difficult task but Henri Bortoft does it.

[Sean Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great thesis, but the covers of this book are too far apart. The distinction between Goethe's science of wholeness and mainstream reductive science is made brilliantly albeit redundantly. The 'unity in multiplicity' vs. 'multiplicity in unity' dichotomy, which is initially fascinating, gets beaten like a dead horse. Just when you think the idea has been exhausted, the author comes back to repeat it for another 100 pages. Also I could have done with less Martin Heidegger quotes and More Ludwig Wittgenstein, but that is a personal preference. It is unfortunate that Goethean science remains largely undeveloped and I wish the author had provided more specific examples scientific research conducted within this 'mode of consciousness'. I guess I will have to explore Wolfgang Schad's books for that.

[Luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rethink scientific knowledge and the role of perception and organizing ideas vs experiment and theory, in light of Goethe's universalizing approach to seeing unity/wholeness in the diversity of nature and phenomena. Somewhere between Feyerabend's Against Method and Manzotti's Spread Mind.

[Crispin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goethe developed and practiced a phenomenological science parallel to the objective/quantitative science of Newton. Like William Blake, Goethe saw deeply, and saw embodiment and the senses as the gateway to understanding nature and being, in opposition to figures like Newton who preferred to obscure the world behind intellectually focused mathematical descriptions.
This book discloses Goethe's way of science in a revelatory way, showing how so many of today's problems, and philosophical problems, are simply side effects of the dominant science in play. Goethe's science sidesteps so many of them! And has its own problems… but to add a second science seems akin to becoming bilingual in Nature… the whole is greater than the sum of its parts (or aspects…)
This book is poetry, drawing together sociology, history, politics, linguistics among other things. There's a lot about light/colour, and biological morphology, the two main case studies for the core epistemological and phenomenological explorations.
A perfect companion to David Bohm's Wholeness and the Implicate Order (Bortoft was a student of Bohm's).
I wish there was an exercise book for Goethe's science. Learning to see in his way seems worthwhile, but this book describes it, gives tantalising glimpses, makes the sale, but does not attempt to guide the way towards developing this capacity in oneself…

[Nick Toombs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twice read and will be returning to this book in the future. Strikes to the heart of some fundamental changes needed for a sustainable future.

[José Miguel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro un poco lento para leer pero fundamental para comenzar a ver las cosas de otra manera

[Federico Botero J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro pudo haber sido un gran ensayo de algunas cuantas páginas, condensando la mirada sistémica y experiencial de Goethe y la crítica a una mirada cuantitativa y fragmentada de la vida.

[Phillip · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for explaining the background of Owen Barfield's work. The reason is that Barfield was a follower of Rudolf Stiener. Stiener edited the scientific papers of Goethe and developed his own philosophy influenced by Goethe's work. Barfield often made unsubstantiated claims. It is helpful to read Stiener or a book like this one on Goethe to help understand what Barfield only telegraphed.

I do have to say that I have been reading this book on and off since around January or February. That does say something about the it.

[Gary]

besides matthei [sic?] which is out of print, where to begin with goethe's scientific studies? maybe this. in any event, goethe as scientist is not to be (dis)missed without first regarding the mountain he left us.

[Usman · Rating 4 out of 5]

simply WOW. COnsidering it is written by a physicist and that its a new conception that can provide you with a thrilling lens to view reality through.

[Johnhb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. Not quite enough on Goethe himself as focus was more on the context of his thinking. We need to know more about the great man.