GOETHE AND DARWIN

Shortly after DARWIN's Theory of Evolution (1859) became wellknown, it was already being discussed as to whether GOETHE's Morphological writ ings fulfil the significant function of forerunner to this theory. The essay here presented answers this question in the negative on the gro unds of an inquiry into GOETHE's notions about nature and their absenc e of influence on DARWIN. Additionally, important stages in the histor y of the reception of GOETHE's morphology from 1861 to the present are delineated.