Humboldt’s encounter with the other

1. Humboldt’s encounter with the other Lydia Sampson

2. Setting the scene • Humboldt fits into a much larger movement • Previous travel writing- circumnavigation, mapping the coastlines, very maritime, survival literature • Linnaeus set up a new system by which all plants could be placed in order of their reproductive parts • Inspired many to go out and find new plants and categorise them

3. Humboldt himself’s view on this shift • “It is not by sailing along a coast that we can discover the direction of chains of mountains and their geological constitution, the climate of each zone and its influence on the forms and habits of organized beings.” (Imperial Eyes) • No distinction made, in theory, between groups of humans- all “organized beings” • Lack of distinction not made by everybody

4. Enlightenment view of Others • “the curious paradox of Enlightenment thought, that the supposedly universal aspiration to liberty, equality and fraternity in fact only operated within a very circumscribed universe. Equality was only ever conceived as equality among people presumed in advance to be equal, and if some person or group fell by definition outside of the circle of equality, then it was no failure to live up to this political ideal to treat them as unequal.” Justin Smith, The Enlightenment’s “Race” Problem

5. Planetary consciousness • Europeans wanted to learn, and did learn, about the world in greater depth than ever before via the means of natural history. This shift in their awareness of said world helped people to construct a new view of it in which Europe was very much still the centre. (Imperial Eyes, paraphrased) Humboldt was a part of this movement, feeding European curiosity and adding to “planetary consciousness”.

6. Consequences of this shift • Thirst for new knowledge, new plants, animals, peoples, everything • Colours perception of people in these countries as exotic and strange • Equal in theory, but not in practice, and sometimes not in theory either (Pater Zea representative of Spanish empire, famed for cruelty)

7. Examples of Humboldt’s Enlightenment regarding non-Europeans • He frees slaves (p.70), although seems to view them in the abstract, as an experiment • Is shocked by, and is very against, slavery • Talks to non-Germans just as he would to Germans, normally • Doesn’t force his native guide to enter the “Totenreich”, leaves him be

8. Examples of Humboldt’s more problematic behaviour • Refers to European monks and, presumably, his tour guide as “AbergläubischeTölpel”, p.73 • He upsets natives by effectively grave robbing, shows no respect to the dead, may not even have permission to enter the cave in the first place • Is haunted by guilt over losing his dog, but not of allowing the Spanish to torture people without complaining or of accepting Pater Zea’s wiping out of an entire tribe.

9. “Humboldt zerrtemehrereLeichenausihren Körben, löste Schädel von Wirbelsäulen, brach Zähne aus Kinnladen und Ringe von Fingern. Eine Kinderleiche und zwei Erwachsene wickelte er in Tϋcher und schnϋrte sie ... fest zusammen“p.120 • His character type- that of the European explorer described as “he whose imperial eyes passively look out and possess”, (Imperial Eyes) is clearly shown here, assuming a right to take whatever he wants.

10. “DieseLeuteseien so abergläubisch… man merke, welch weiterWegesnochseizuFrieden und Vernunft” p.121 • “AberdieseTotenseien so alt, daβ man sieeigentlichnichtmehrLeichennennenkönnen. Die ganze Welt besteheschlieβlich aus toten Körpern!... Was hättensienuralle, wosei das Problem?” p. 123 • Describes a native child as having “Tieraugen”

11. Humboldt and women • Women are also Others for Humboldt • Doesn’t speak much on what he thinks women are, except for “Es miβfielihmzusehen, an wievielenStellen Frauen behaartwaren; das schienihmunvereinbarmitihrernatϋrlichenWϋrde” p.72 • Kant: “Das Frauenzimmer hat ein angebornes stärkeres Gefühl für alles, was schön, zierlich und geschmückt ist. Schon in der Kindheit sind sie gerne geputzt und gefallen sich, wenn sie geziert sind. Sie sind reinlich und sehr zärtlich in Ansehung alles dessen, was Ekel verursacht.“ (Beobachtungen über das Gefühl des Schönen und Erhabenen)

12. Conclusion • Humboldt may view non-Europeans as fellow men in theory, but in practice, is condescending and Othering • His attitudes to women are less clear, but his referencing of Kant and “natϋrlichenWϋrde” suggest that he categorises them and Others them as he would any species he does not understand.

13. Bibliography • Imperial eyes: travel writing and transculturation, Pratt, Mary Louise, 2008 • Die Vermessung der Welt, Kehlmann, Daniel, 2008 • Beobachtungen über das Gefühl des Schönen und Erhabenen from Werke in sechs Bänden / Band 1, Kant, Immanuel, 1764 • The Enlightenment‘s “Race“ Problem, Smith, Justin, New York Times, 2013