Notes for a Romantic Encyclopaedia: Das Allgemeine Brouillon

Appendix: Extracts from the Freiberg Natural Scientific Studies (1798/99)

Appendix  Extracts from the Freiberg Natural Scientific Studies (1798/99) 1. [Chemistry Notebooks]1 [First] Chemistry Notebook 22nd June [1798] 1. There is much more electricity present after thunderstorms than before them. The anxiety of animals can be explained by the withdrawal of the electrical stimulus. Both the purest nickel and cobalt are likewise capable of a high degree of magnetic force. Atmospheric pressure is contrary to evaporation. The lower the barometer, the easier it is to boil water. Any enlargement of a surface due to a mechanical reduction and expansion must occasion negative electricity. 2. On the self-inflammation—and detonation of a human being.2 We possess numerous instances of the lightning-like inflammation and sudden combustion of an organic body. (What is a mirror? Polished surface. Prismatic, rainbow colors. More intensive transparency—e.g., in a diamond. Easier decomposability of steam—Even easier decomposability of air. Mechanical—and chemical reflection—semiconductors only partly reflect. A perfectly combustible body doesn’t burn with physical heat, because all the heat is absorbed (cf. phosphorous).) 3. (Since the breathing of the plant world is beneficial for animals, is the breathing of animals then beneficial for plants? Plants don’t produce any excrement. Hence plants nourish animals, just as animals nourish plants). Alunit and vitriol are produced by the weather). (Therefore gardens flourish better in impoverished surroundings—in homes— backyards—in towns). 193 4. a. The synthetic course proceeds above all from the constituents (or better, from the elements) to the whole. b. the analytic course from the whole to the elements. Perfect synthesis and analysis are uno memento, just as inhaling and exhaling are connected in breathing. a. is the empirical path, b. the path a priori. Their union, see Laplace—the mathematical method of proof is the empirical path.3 It does not suffice to universalize the specific, the particular—rather, we must also endeavor to individualize the universal. Likewise, it does not suffice to compare, rather we must also know how to distinguish. a. is the path from Nature to spirit. b. the path from spirit to Nature. (The moral path). 5. If we possessed perfect descriptions and determinations of both Nature and concepts, then we would no longer require any laws. 6. Simple thoughts—composite thoughts ⫽ thought systems. Imperfect composite thoughts ⫽ irrational thoughts. Whoever is able to bring forth numerous living thoughts, is called a genius. Individualization of philosophical operations and concepts. Second Chemistry Notebook 7. It is strange that in nearly every chemical operation—all the degrees of the present connection or separation etc. simultaneously appear—in different relations—and often remain over. / Relationship to the different tones of every stroke of a string— the fifth—the third [interval] etc. 8. It is likewise a sign of the prevailing tendency of our time towards abstraction (⫽ association with the invisible—nonsensible—immediate—independent.), that the theory of gases and forces has been so thoroughly worked out, and now forms the most important chapter in physics). (Only the self has access to the self). Appearances of fire. 1. Through pressure and friction. 2. Through affinity. 3. Through secretion or excretion, e.g. in the infusion of acids etc. 2. Mathematics Notebook 9. The study of machines educates the mechanist—and accustoms the spirit to skillful discoveries and combinations. 194 Appendix: Freiberg Natural Scientific Studies (1798/99) (The forces are conversely related, like their velocities). Mechanics is the mathematics of forces. Geometry is the mathematics of forms. Optics is the mathematics of light. Bass continuo is the mathematics of acoustics. Perspective—the mathematics of vision. Is mathematics the art of finding and determining from data or facts, other dependent and connected data and facts—simply analysis and synthesis? Numerical system of nomenclature in arithmetic. All sciences should become mathematics. Up to now, mathematics has merely been the first and simplest expression or revelation of true scientific spirit. The numerical system is the model for a genuine system of linguistic signs— The letters of our alphabet shall become numbers, our language, arithmetic. What did the Pythagoreans really understand by the forces of numbers? Spirit of mechanics—is surely the spirit of the whole, without any connection to the parts—or to the individuality. Poetics of mathematics. Grammar of mathematics. Physics of mathematics. Philosophy of mathematics. History of mathematics. Mathematics of philosophy. Mathematics of Nature. Mathematics of poesy. Mathematics of history. Mathematics of mathematics. 10. (Living force—absolute force...