Humboldt E-Book

Robert Green Ingersoll

• Herausgeber: Booksell-Verlag
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2020

Beschreibung

In "Humboldt," Robert Green Ingersoll masterfully weaves a narrative that blends biographical elements with a passionate exploration of the ideals and contributions of the renowned naturalist and explorer, Alexander von Humboldt. Using a lyrical and engaging literary style, Ingersoll adeptly captures Humboldt'Äôs spirit of inquiry and reverence for nature, framing his scientific discoveries within the context of the burgeoning appreciation for empirical knowledge in the 19th century. The book serves as both a homage to Humboldt'Äôs adventurous life and a critique of dogmatic thinking, reflecting the intellectual currents of the Enlightenment and early scientific inquiry. As a prominent orator, political activist, and self-proclaimed agnostic, Ingersoll'Äôs life experiences significantly influenced his contemplative approach to writing. Having been deeply engaged in discussions surrounding religion, science, and human rights, Ingersoll sought to illuminate the importance of knowledge and the pursuit of truth. His admiration for Humboldt'Äôs work, characterized by a deep respect for nature and a scientific mind, found expression in this text, revealing the intersections between science, philosophy, and the human experience. "Humboldt" is highly recommended for readers interested in the history of science, biography, and those who appreciate eloquent prose that challenges conventional thinking. Ingersoll'Äôs thoughtful examination of Humboldt'Äôs legacy not only sheds light on the man himself but also invites readers to reflect on the broader implications of curiosity and exploration in our understanding of the world.

Leseprobe

Robert Green Ingersoll

Humboldt

From 'The Gods and Other Lectures'

Published by Good Press, 2020

[email protected]

EAN 4064066099800

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

"

THE UNIVERSE IS GOVERNED BY LAW.

Table of Contents

GREAT men seem to be a part of the infinite—brothers of the mountains and the seas.

Humboldt was one of these. He was one of those serene men, in some respects like our own Franklin, whose names have all the lustre of a star. He was one of the few, great enough to rise above the superstition and prejudice of his time, and to know that experience, observation, and reason are the only basis of knowledge.

He became one of the greatest of men in spite of having been born rich and noble—in spite of position. I say in spite of these things, because wealth and position are generally the enemies of genius, and the destroyers of talent.

It is often said of this or that man, that he is a self-made man—that he was born of the poorest and humblest parents, and that with every obstacle to overcome he became great. This is a mistake. Poverty is generally an advantage. Most of the intellectual giants of the world have been nursed at the sad and loving breast of poverty. Most of those who have climbed highest on the shining ladder of fame commenced at the lowest round. They were reared in the straw-thatched cottages of Europe; in the log-houses of America; in the factories of the great cities; in the midst of toil; in the smoke and din of labor, and on the verge of want. They were rocked by the feet of mothers whose hands, at the same time, were busy with the needle or the wheel.

It is hard for the rich to resist the thousand allurements of pleasure, and so I say, that Humboldt, in spite of having been born to wealth and high social position, became truly and grandly great.

In the antiquated and romantic castle of Tegel, by the side of the pine forest, on the shore of the charming lake, near the beautiful city of Berlin, the great Humboldt, one hundred years ago to-day, was born, and there he was educated after the method suggested by Rousseau—Campe, the philologist and critic, and the intellectual Kunth being his tutors. There he received the impressions that determined his career; there the great idea that the universe is governed by law, took possession of his mind, and there he dedicated his life to the demonstration of this sublime truth.

He came to the conclusion that the source of man's unhappiness is his ignorance of nature.

After having received the most thorough education, at that time possible, and having determined to what end he would devote the labors of his life, he turned his attention to the sciences of geology, mining, mineralogy, botany, the distribution of plants, the distribution of animals, and the effect of climate upon man. All grand physical phenomena were investigated and explained. From his youth he had felt a great desire for travel. He felt, as he says, a violent passion for the sea, and longed to look upon nature in her wildest and most rugged forms. He longed to give a physical description of the universe—a grand picture of nature; to account for all phenomena; to discover the laws governing the world; to do away with that splendid delusion called special providence, and to establish the fact that the universe is governed by law.