Novalis: German Philosopher and Poet

Expanding Horizons

Kris begins his address with a question: "Who was Georg Philipp Friedrich Fruihwald von Hadenburg - alias Novalis?" a corruption from di Novali - "The Newcomers" - the name his ancestors gave to themselves when they settled on their land. Novalis b. 1772, was a Lutheran, (Pietist) mystic, in awe of the beauty and mystery of Nature and the universe that surrounded him. It was the beginning of the Age of Reason that applied Reason and Intellect to understand Nature and God. As a young mystic poet, novelist and philosopher, aged only 28, Novalis contracted tuberculosis or cystic fibrosis and died at 29 but had packed so much into his short life. Kris's biographical research will encourage you to listen on to find out more about the contribution of this young, free-thinker and "Unitarian", who expressed his "Thoughts - through Philosophy" and his "Feelings - through Poetry", but concluding - "Humanity is a comic role"?