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Single Idea 19594

[catalogued under 14. Science / B. Scientific Theories / 1. Scientific Theory]

Full Idea

General statements are not valid in the study of nature.

Gist of Idea

General statements about nature are not valid

Source

Novalis (Last Fragments [1800], 17)

Book Reference

Novalis: 'Philosophical Writings', ed/tr. Stoljar,M.M. [SUNY 1997], p.156


A Reaction

This is his striking obsession with the particularity and fine detail of nature. Alexander von Humbolt was exploring nature in S.America in this year. It sounds wrong about physics, but possibly right about biology.

Related Ideas

Idea 19591 Desire for perfection is an illness, if it turns against what is imperfect [Novalis]

Idea 19595 Nature is a whole, and its individual parts cannot be wholly understood [Novalis]