MSW Book Recommendation # 36

”Let us not underrate the value of a fact: 
  it will one day flower in a truth.”

  (Thoreau) on 'Natural History of Massachusetts' ; cite via Walls ( p. 164)

 

The Passage to Cosmos. Alexander von Humboldt and the Shaping of America. 
 By Laura Dassow Walls
 (Chicago and London, p. 2009 ; 389 p.)

 [Recommendation II / 2013]

It's so...that, I'm obliged at first say of not very comprehensively to have read this book selected. But, I've paged it very frequently during recent few year - Actually, more often than most any other from my recent readings. Suffices to say, therefore, it also to making quite direct following to (the novel) recom. on the preceding post. (Especially as both examplary authors/central historical personnels at these posts, wrote and lived on post-romantic period, early 1800s.)

Perhaps it's then also worth repeating our formerly presented regrets from not had many biographies discussed or presented at these recoms...so far. This book, at least superficially, serves also 'fill that gap' (While it's not any acutal biography and not particularly aims represent some, it naturally covers by large part Humboldt's doings and briefly describes his life from other chapters than the S.American journey, too.)

In general Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) possibly ain't too well-known a person for any modern readers (such as me, fx). Quite the contrary to that, (acc. Walls), Humboldt on his own times, was perhaps the most renown scientist in the World. Due because of his many travels and researches Humboldt become known as the person who first cartographed (w. the aid from Aimé Bonpland, his co-traveller) and made available to wider knowledge large parts of the formerly unknown areas from the S.American continent. All of those consequences were not of positive kind, probably. Yet, that also soon led for or was followed by a political and societal changes on that 'New World' (still new at the time...for the Europeans). Also from having formed close acquaintance for many american 1800s personnel (esp. usually referred is Simon Bolivar), Humboldt also played figure influential at the history from independencing of several S. American countries, at early century. (Not surprisingly seems it noted that he remained lot better remembered on during 20^th century on the S.Americas part than at the more Northern continents, with exception of his country of birth, present day Germany.)

From his wide variety of interests and pursuits for many modern scientific realms, at their early 1800s origins (or development), became known by term 'the Humboldtian sciences'. In particular he invented and improved various measuring devices for the study of the Earth (The earth's formation, volcanology and origins of mountaneous ranges,the measumerements from atmospheric change, etc., …and, his interests ranged to the plant kingdom and cultural histories, as well.). H. used methods and instruments that, within the rapid advances during that century, soon after his days already had become aged and were bypassed. Yet, in a way it's just saying that the H.'s influence to the latter century science were essential. 

Much what was in the main of the Humboldt's 'grand vision', also was perhaps beyond much of his own ages thinking; ...relating to this, Walls writes about that on several places, she fx notes on one occasion:
 

”The problem with originality is hard to hear – it is much easier to fold the truly new back into the familiar, and hear it as validation of the ready-made. To begin with, the Anglo-America, the ready-made view – almost the only permissible view – saw the universe as God's creation, unified not as Humboldt said by human perception, but by God's creative act and sustaining energy. Virtually every western scientist outside the circle of French influence operated within the assumption of natural theology, which held that the physical universe, in it's divine balance and ingenious mechanisms, revealed the nature and attributes of the God who created it. This made science, at least until Darwin, an arm of Christian religion.”(;p 235) ...for the following she then remarks it open for the interpretation what kind was specifically Humboldt's view of/from the 'spiritual overlord'(so to say...), but he certainly wasn't believer of that doctrine of the natural theology. And, of course preceding only means (of precisely) how the emergence of (modern) sciences, having passed on from the era of Rationalism, were to gain the wider acceptance, or how that (science) was justified from the earliest, how it's 'place' in the society was viewed still on begins of the 1800s.

But the book of course has lots more to tell too. Fx, that Humboldt's interests were as much about the peoples and nations than from the geologic formations and mountaneous ranges he so keenly travelled, studied and described (both represented 'the different sides of a same coin', from the same uniformity; ie the Earth). Only much of what followed in the western development (of sciences during the 19^th century) didn't follow or mostly share the Humboldt's universal humanism - that incl. his view from the equality/common origin of the races, etc. (Book has some chapters on that, so no further discussing that here.)

It's also noticeable that in spite of his post mortem 'selective neglect' (so to say...), H. did remain important source of influence (interpreted, or misinterpreted), for a personal 're-invention' by many major pre-environmentalists, having lived at latter parts of the century. ...From the N. American part, of where she traces Humboldt's influence esp., Walls lists and discusses more precisely fx Emerson (Ralph W. 1803-82), Thoreau, Susan Fenimore Cooper, John Muir, Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900 ; painter, whose late-romantic 'Rainy season in the Tropics' depicts the books cover), George Perkins Marsh. List, very briefly put, seems cover most early figures of an ecological thinking of the 19^th century. (And, also relates for the early begins of anthropology and ethnographic-sciences as well, Agassiz and Boas mentioned, no matter how separate their views, or more specifically opinions from cultures and humanity later/or soon maybe developed.) Humboldt's importance for the early (american) environmentalism, however was profound, it appers perhaps most 'compactly' expressed in the following (sentence):

”Humboldt attempted, in short, to create a counter-narrative to the drumbeat of imperial progress, and in this attempt he effectively created what we now would call an environmental discourse. His foundational assumption was that neither man nor nature can be understood in isolation.”(; p. 8.)

...Due because (Humboldt) was such a renown and cherished figure at his times (...'second most famous personnel in the century, after the Napoleon', like it seems said), there's of course loads of postume references for Humboldt's journey and from his various doings. Most renown is perhaps that famous story from some part of his (& Bonpland's) journey, at remote Amazonian village 'testing' that poisonic stuff manufactured by indians for hunting the prey (...So, I don't care to retell it here). Considering above said, more suitable anecdote is offered from that Humboldt is mentioned from only once having met Napoleon (Bonaparte, the emperor). That was soon after him had returned from that S.American travel. All of their exchange of words – allegedly – is said consisted from emperor asking 'You collect plants?', 'Yes.' (was the answer.) , 'So does my wife', sneered Napoleon. (;p. 327) ...Walls seems also to mention that the 'Napoleon of science' had been born exactly the same year as was the actual Napoleon, on 1869 - So seems it, Humboldt succeeded out-live his 'nick-namesake' by some 40 years, as the French emperor died on y. 1821. (Perhaps the plants collecting had it's benefits, after all.) ; ...Apparently, the baron (H.) probably also didn't hold too high an opinion concerning the prime representant of the 'imperial imperative' (ie Napoleon, who also had conquered Humboldt's homeyards in the meanwhile of his travels.). In that sense - along the other mentioned 'joint points' - seems H. to also have had something in common w. that other 'historical environmentalist' (person, at our preceding recom.). Sainte-Pierre, having lived quite around the same times too (he d. 1814), wasn't too fond of the emperor either (Although, he naturally also was obliged live more or less directly under the emperors dominion.; ...Bonaparte - whether or not this likewise acutal historical anecdote - seems mentioned from having continuously (often) asked St.Pierre 'when shall we expect more of the Paul & Virginies and Indian Cottages ?' (Perhaps his wife was devoted reader for those too...)

Anyhow, part of Humboldt's legend probably did gain from his apparently excellent health. In during the times when people generally faced large possibility from the early grave, he managed live for a prosperous old-ages. Of course, he likely benefited from had been born on aristocratic family, but he also rarely seems fell to more seriously illnesses, even. (Additionally, also succeeded fx travelling criss-cross the Northern parts from S.Americas and apparently avoided any serious fevers, or mostly at least, while by that time malaria must have already been established on those regions. Many of his journeys, though, took place on the mountaneous parts, but H., and Bonpland, also are credited from having founded and mapped parts from Amazons rivers.)

Conclusively, in brief, as my own familiarity from the Humboldtian 'legacy' is very limited, I only notice that sometimes his writings yet seem 'echo' also the conventional thinking; He fx typically uses terms 'civilized' and 'barbarians'/or, the 'savage races', as opposites (or, dichotomies if you prefer the scientific jargon...). Rather typical within the manner dominating most from the 19^th-centurian cultural discourse. The use of terms apparently appears quite implicit, and one needs not pay any especial attention for that, even while those by now feel like quite valuing apprehensions, from definition. 
(...In fact, feels to me Humboldt is on his weakest there, just due because he is appears - at that - devoid of his usual personal obervations, or 'data' of his own - so precious to his other main fields of interest, and, is forced rely on the concepts developed by other people/bourgeoise scientists. But then it's also quite noticeable how he finds on the same paragraphs – completely contrasting the dominating, or prevailed opinions of the 1800s historism  – that majority from those 'savages' seem being actually agriculturalists. ; Precisely, most of these 'hordes (of savages) ...are probably descendants of nations highly advanced in cultivation.'; on 'Personal narrative...', Vol 1. ;Chapter IX). Glancing backwards, it took some 150 years for the main 'western' (/imperial hegemonist by origin) mainstream sciences for to be able from reach the same understanding about that (aspect). So, I guess, the view also expresses, probably, as much 'equalism' that is probably possible to find from most any 19^th-centurian, European cultural theoretist text / or, at cultural historist writing of that time.

 

...Maybe also worth noticing that in spite of how sharp was the Humboldt's view for the past, or vision from futures, also perhaps how high hopes about the development of the republics he might've had, course of history soon shifted away of that kind 'romantic idealism' (on early 1800s that probably was 'in the mainstream', for sometime. Soon, leading to emphasizing what afterwards has (usually) become synonymous with the word nowadays from rather 'mostrous connotations', the progress (identified, at the time for the imperialism). So likely it's also justified noticed that ”Humboldt's ideas and ideals thus played into a very different history than the one he had foreseen.” (;Walls, p. 146.)

...Otherways, and no question from that, Humboldt's writing more often than not shows clearly from him having sympathised and of having developed that idea (of his) about 'equality of man-kind', in direct closeness within the Natures. ...On an era when race-theories generally widely were cultivated, when the slavery-system (fx) only had been briefly abandoned (...and not yet quite widely or universally, even. As an integratal part from the sociel practices it still kept firm, lasted well later, besides).  In that sense, I think, his envisage (ie 'Humboldt's cosmos') also indeed was probably more universal, ground-breaking a view – If he is fx compared to many later more famous, (claimedly) 'great liberal' authors, writers, or politicians, (and scientiststs), from his times. Liberals only, or only partly so, due from because of their more later 'uplift' at the historical memory.

--------------

Further reading:

The Humboldt Current: Nineteenth-Century Explorations and the Roots of American Environmentalism.  - Book by Sachs, Aaron.(2006) 
 

; Walls describes this (book) well-worth viewing, esp. the opening chapters ...though I've not read it. ...She also notes that '...for all his world importance, not one single, authoritative, modern, critical biography of Humboldt exist in the English language.'(;p. 326). ...Of course, there might be, by now. / And, additionally to mention, there is an Ocean-current named after Humboldt (who first discovered it passing closer the S.American West coast at Pacific, adjacent from the Andes.)

Measuring the World (2005).  - A novel by Daniel Kehlmann.

; ...So I read this for the 'easier alternative'. About Humboldt (and Carl Friedrich Gauss, 1779-1855, mathematician and astronomer) Enjoyable book.

Personal Narrative of travels to the equinoctial regions of America, During the years 1799-1804. - by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland. (7 vols, 6 books. p. 1814-9/ 1852)

; ...for the 'enthusiasts'. …Seems it fx described that (often) Humboldt's writings make quite exhaustive reading from the modern view-point, as his style of writing was to combine his observations for a (very detailed) record from the observed phenomena. Textually, kind of an exact, carefully kept 'scientitic journal' written for a 'romantic treatise' (about those travels) ; ...But, his topics of interest range within so wide variety of aspects that any modern scientist would probably find too exhausting; the geomorphism and volcanology, the early history of the mankind, outer spaces/meteors and atmospheric constituents, the races and men, the plants and topography, the colonial regions and cartography... But (I think it, also makes) actually very enchanting reading (at least on the parts I've viewed), just due because Humboldt  - unlike any modern environmental authors, who 'frame' their sophisticated topics/carefully researched facts and data (; also, in the worst cases, w. rather monotonous tone), for an adequate amount of jokes and personal humours (to lighten it a bit) – Not anything from that kind on Humboldt. He doesn't waste a sentence for such 'pleasing' of (his) readers; With some self-evident (self-justified) romanticist relation to this subject of his study ('The world', I guess...), narrative from the journey is just as extensive as are his remarks about his various measurements and observation. Sometimes it's difficult to say, whether he feels more in common with (his) beloved rocks and stones (...gneiss, granite, porphyries, 'mica-slates', pearlstone, 'mixtures of augmite and feldspar', obsidian and Lydian-stone, ...and additional volcanic substances...) than towards his travel-companion(s), or for the humanity in general, but one gets the impression there's not ever reasons from to suspect his honesty. (Likely, the books also probably more accessible reading than many from Humboldt's other texts, that consist less from those travels and more 'purely' from his science findings.)

---------

( The latest posts! - @ Mulskinner Blog @ )


----------
Powered by ScribeFire.