The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World

Humboldt embarks on a long-anticipated scientific expedition across Russia in 1829, eager to explore its vast natural landscapes. At 59, Humboldt travels from St. Petersburg through Moscow and onto the Siberian expanses, driven by a desire to study and compare the geographical and geological features of this largely uncharted territory with those he previously encountered in South America.

Humboldt’s journey, funded by Tsar Nicholas I, is not just a pursuit of scientific knowledge but also serves the tsar’s commercial interests in identifying valuable minerals like gold and platinum for more efficient mining. Despite these constraints, Humboldt manages to blend his obligations with personal scientific inquiries, particularly in the Urals where he hypothesizes and confirms the presence of diamonds—a prediction that stirs significant interest and seems almost magical to onlookers.

As Humboldt ventures deeper into Siberia, he finds himself both disillusioned by the familiar landscapes and exhilarated by the freedom from courtly duties in Berlin. His scientific observations are meticulous, covering everything from the flora and fauna to the geological strata.

Despite the official aim of the expedition, Humboldt grapples with the limitations imposed by the Russian authorities, especially regarding any critique of social conditions or serfdom. His journey becomes a balancing act between his scientific ambitions and the political expectations of his Russian sponsors.

The chapter explores Charles Darwin’s transformative journey aboard the HMS Beagle, which was heavily inspired by Humboldt’s earlier explorations and writings. Darwin, a young naturalist, embarks on this voyage partly due to his admiration for Humboldt, whose works he practically memorized and which fueled his own aspirations for exploration and scientific inquiry.

As Darwin navigates through the physical challenges of the journey and his initial seasickness, he is comforted and inspired by Humboldt’s striking descriptions of the natural world, which he reads while confined to his cabin. This influence is pivotal, as it shapes Darwin’s observations and experiences throughout the voyage. Humboldt’s descriptions of the tropics and other regions provide Darwin with a lens through which he views and interprets the exotic landscapes and biodiversity he encounters.

Darwin’s journey is not just a passage across the seas but an intellectual exploration, guided by Humboldt’s ideas on the interconnectedness of nature. This influence is evident as Darwin makes his own observations, which later contribute to his revolutionary theory of evolution. Humboldt’s emphasis on the detailed study of nature’s interconnectedness helps Darwin to formulate his thoughts on natural selection and the adaptation of species to their environments.

Humboldt undertakes the monumental task of writing Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe. Beginning the project at 65, Humboldt aims to synthesize a comprehensive depiction of the natural world, intertwining various scientific disciplines that had begun to isolate themselves into specialized fields. His writing is influenced by his expansive travels and observations and enriched by the insights gathered during his expedition to Russia, which provided him with the comparative data essential for his work.

Humboldt’s ambition is to produce a work as intricate and interconnected as nature itself, reflecting on everything from the microcosm of mosses to the vastness of the cosmos, encompassing both the scientific and the poetic. The work challenges the growing trend of compartmentalization within the sciences, promoting instead a holistic view of natural phenomena. This project not only encapsulates Humboldt’s vision of nature but also seeks to inspire a sense of wonder and convey the importance of holistic scientific inquiry.

The process of writing Cosmos involves an extensive network of contributors from various fields—including botanists, geologists, astronomers, and historians—who aid Humboldt by providing the latest data from their specializations. Humboldt manages this influx of information through meticulous organization, sorting contributions into categorized boxes for ease of reference during the writing process.

In this chapter, Henry David Thoreau’s intellectual and physical journey intersects with Humboldt’s ideas. Thoreau, a leading thinker of American transcendentalism, spends over two years in a small cabin at Walden Pond to “live deliberately,” drawing deep inspiration from Humboldt’s integration of scientific rigor and poetic sensibility, particularly from Cosmos.

Thoreau’s retreat to Walden is an act of immersive nature engagement, whereby he builds his own cabin and becomes deeply attuned to the natural world around him. This period is not just one of solitary reflection but is also marked by a rigorous engagement with nature, reminiscent of Humboldt’s detailed observations and systemic thinking about the natural world.

As Thoreau synthesizes his experiences into what would become the influential work Walden, he encounters Humboldt’s Cosmos and is captivated by its holistic view of nature. This encounter enriches his narrative, allowing him to weave scientific observations with poetic expression. Thoreau’s approach mirrors Humboldt’s; he sees nature as a connected whole, where every observation and fact is a thread in the larger context of the ecosystem. Thoreau evolves from a solitary observer to a thinker who perceives the interconnectedness of all things, influenced significantly by Humboldt’s method of portraying nature as an integrated entity.