The published artwork of Haeckel includes over 100 detailed, multi-colour illustrations of animals and sea creatures, collected in his Kunstformen der Natur ("Art Forms in Nature"), a book which would go on to influence the Art Nouveau artistic movement. As a philosopher, Ernst Haeckel wrote Die Welträthsel (1895–1899; in English: The Riddles of the Universe, 1900), the genesis for the term "world riddle" (Welträtsel); and Freedom in Science and Teaching to support teaching evolution. He also coined the "Biogenetic Law".
Life and Career
Haeckel promoted scientific racism and embraced the idea of Social Darwinism. He was the first person to characterize the Great War as the "first" World War, which he did as early as 1914.
Key Facts
- Born: February 16, 1834 in Potsdam, Kingdom of Prussia
- Died: 1919
- Field: Science
- Awards: Linnean Medal (1894) Darwin–Wallace Medal (Silver, 1908)
Legacy and Impact
The influence of Ernst Haeckel extends far beyond his own lifetime. He fundamentally shaped our understanding of the natural world, and his discoveries and theories remain foundational to this day.
Though he passed away in 1919, his ideas continue to be studied, debated, and built upon by scholars and practitioners worldwide.
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