Goethe's poetry and the philosophy of nature

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At the beginning of the nineteenth century, philosophy and theology come under increasing pressure owing to the emergence of the modern sciences. The collection Gott und Welt is Goethes poetic contribution to this conflict, in which an alternative to orthodox Christianity was being sought. Following the collections various stages of composition and publication, this study offers new readings of some of Goethes best known poems: Die Metamorphose der Pflanzen, Dauer im Wechsel, Urworte. Orphisch and Wiederfinden. Sachers shows that Gott und Welt is the long poem on nature which Goethe attempted to write for the last third of his life. As such it represents Goethes unique answers to the intellectual challenges posed by the dawning age of science. (Legenda 2013) Regina Sachers is Lecturer in German at Exeter College, Oxford.