The Invention Of Nature By Andrea Wulf - 1983 Words

Alexander Von Humboldt was a Prussian naturalist whose work has helped shape and define our modern understanding of nature. He used enlightenment rationalism to navigate his way through life and his deep connection to his natural environment inspired a visionary movement in ushering out the monotheistic creationist worldview. â€Å"Humboldt’s books, diaries and letters reveal a visionary, a thinker far ahead of his time. He invented isotherms...discovered the magnetic equator...came up with the idea of vegetation and climate zones that snake across the globe†¦and revolutionized the way we see the natural world.† (Invention of Nature, 5). Although his work was extensive, author of ‘The Invention of Nature, Andrea Wulf suggests that his work has largely been forgotten due to his polymath approach of including art, history, poetry and politics that made him unfavorable. While Humboldt gave us our concept of nature itself, â€Å"the irony is that Humboldtâ€℠¢s views have become so self-evident that we have largely forgotten the man behind them.† However, although his work individual work may be overlooked, Humboldt’s success in making science more accessible work and as a result, his legacy lives on as the source of inspiration for many influential thinkers throughout history. One of the most influential thinkers inspired by Humboldt, who helps us remember Humboldt’s legacy is John Muir. Inspired by Von Humboldt’s travels, Muir wanted to explore the world just like Von Humboldt. He possessed