The image of Goethe as a scientist and thinker: dialogue of antique and the era of enlightenment

This article explores the portrayal of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe as a thinker and scientist during the Enlightenment, emphasizing the influence of antiquity, specifically Aristotle, on his approach to natural science. This study is the first of its kind to illustrate the concept of the philosopher and researcher within the realm of natural science thought with a specific example, while also providing a nuanced and fluctuating depiction of the philosopher-researcher during the era of European Classicism in the Modern Age. The aim of the article is to present Goethe not only as a poet, philosopher, and playwright, but also as a researcher in mineralogy and geology, who held significant authority within the European scientific community. The fluctuating image of Goethe as an ancient thinker is underexplored, yet it can be thoroughly examined to offer valuable insights into the understanding of European Classicism and early 19th-century sculpture. Through this research, it was established that Johann Wolfgang von Goethe was highly regarded as a researcher within the natural sciences structure of European thought, and his persona became a source of inspiration for sculptors who created busts that depicted him as an ancient thinker or a hero from classical mythology.