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The story which will follow appeared in 1783 in the 1st volume of the Magazin zur Erfahrungsseelenkunde for empirical psychology. (, History of Psychology 3 vols., London 1914-1921. mentions this Magazin in Vol. 2)
“The Editor of the Magazin, Karl Philipp Moritz,” wrote the late Ernst Cassirer to this author, “belongs to those thinkers and writers, who as few others, have partaken in all the movements of the German mind and have reflected its basic interests and tendencies. The Magazin is important not only for the history of psychology, but for the history of the German mind in the 19th century, too.”
Back to Nature! was the cry De Profundis and at the same time the battle cry of the spiritual movement at the end of the 18th century.
Back to Nature meant back to nature's goodness and surrender to its noble generosity.
But where there is battle there is distress. Those feelings were derived
“From the bonds of work, from trades restriction“From the pressing weight of roof and gable“From the narrow, crushing streets and alleys“From the churches” solemn and reverent night.
The battle for new laws was first the battle to right old injustices and the inborn rights could come to light only by destroying those ugly, dusty privileges. Back to Nature. meant at the same time turning away from contemporary civilization.