Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson(transcendentalist)(transcendentalist)

Readings from Readings from

NatureNature

The American ScholarThe American Scholar

Self-RelianceSelf-Reliance

FateFate

Journals were evolving body of thoughtJournals were evolving body of thought Most important word in writing is Most important word in writing is soulsoul

Not spiritual selfNot spiritual self Rather, related to our intellectual Rather, related to our intellectual

perceptions, moral nature as individuals, perceptions, moral nature as individuals, and our sense as organic beings alive in and our sense as organic beings alive in the worldthe world

SoulSoul is the “activator” or power source is the “activator” or power source Inspirational and exhilarating b/c it is the Inspirational and exhilarating b/c it is the

power of God within each of uspower of God within each of us

Over-SoulOver-Soul

Beyond natural law and human reason Beyond natural law and human reason there must exist a higher, spiritual law that there must exist a higher, spiritual law that permeates all forms of lifepermeates all forms of life

Over-soul is an ultimate spiritual unity that Over-soul is an ultimate spiritual unity that encompasses ALL existenceencompasses ALL existence

Critical Questions from Critical Questions from NatureNature

Why in nature, as opposed to society, can Why in nature, as opposed to society, can we become a “transparent eyeball”?we become a “transparent eyeball”?

What transcendental belief does “the What transcendental belief does “the distant line of the horizon” imply? Can we distant line of the horizon” imply? Can we reach the horizon?reach the horizon?

from from NatureNature

Chief obstacles to change are Chief obstacles to change are personal comfort and the safety of personal comfort and the safety of traditional beliefstraditional beliefs

Habit and tradition have become a Habit and tradition have become a way of livingway of living

The truths and ideas of other times The truths and ideas of other times are the barriers against our soul’s are the barriers against our soul’s insightsinsights

from from NatureNature

Nature is divine inspirationNature is divine inspiration Need to experience nature through Need to experience nature through

our own eyes, not through the eyes of our own eyes, not through the eyes of historians, philosophers, etc… historians, philosophers, etc… [“transparent eye”][“transparent eye”]

Emerson’s Emerson’s “transparent eyeball”“transparent eyeball” Describes the Describes the

indescribableindescribable Represents the influx Represents the influx

of divinity that lets one of divinity that lets one look inwardly and see look inwardly and see that he or she is part that he or she is part of the whole creationof the whole creation

Most of Emerson’s Most of Emerson’s literary images are of literary images are of sightsight

Humanity and nature pre-existed in Humanity and nature pre-existed in God’s mind, so all are related, none are God’s mind, so all are related, none are insignificant, and all contain God’s spiritinsignificant, and all contain God’s spirit

Facts of nature and human nature show Facts of nature and human nature show spiritual truths (acorn oak = spiritual truths (acorn oak = something mighty has small beginnings.)something mighty has small beginnings.)

Seeing the connectedness of man and Seeing the connectedness of man and nature frees us from the pastnature frees us from the past Must not conform to societyMust not conform to society Must insist on INDIVIDUALISMMust insist on INDIVIDUALISM

Calls for practical reform and renewal Calls for practical reform and renewal to renovate life and social stateto renovate life and social state

Most important:Most important: NatureNature emphasizes that the secrets emphasizes that the secrets

of nature and human nature are one, of nature and human nature are one, and we have a potential of which and we have a potential of which we’ve never dreamedwe’ve never dreamed

OPTIMISM & POTENTIALOPTIMISM & POTENTIAL

American ScholarAmerican Scholar To Harvard College Phi Beta Kappa (scholars To Harvard College Phi Beta Kappa (scholars

of US)of US) ““Man thinking”---thought is never ending Man thinking”---thought is never ending

processprocess Man must not rely on books or knowledge from Man must not rely on books or knowledge from

the past as they are limited to the timesthe past as they are limited to the times Must see interconnectedness of nature and Must see interconnectedness of nature and

manman Limitless potential of nature = limitless potential Limitless potential of nature = limitless potential

in selfin self

Homework: Critical Questions from Homework: Critical Questions from American ScholarAmerican Scholar

Who is the scholar?Who is the scholar? What is the responsibility and nature What is the responsibility and nature

of the scholar?of the scholar? What pitfalls must the scholar avoid?What pitfalls must the scholar avoid? What is the scholar’s role in building What is the scholar’s role in building

the future?the future?

““For non-For non-conformity the conformity the

world whips you world whips you with its with its

displeasure.”displeasure.”

from Self-Reliancefrom Self-Reliance

Sums up his ideas up to this point in his Sums up his ideas up to this point in his lifelife

Complicated thought boiled down into Complicated thought boiled down into short sentencesshort sentences

Criticism directed at society and social Criticism directed at society and social institutionsinstitutions

Individualism is in sharp, deadly conflict Individualism is in sharp, deadly conflict with societywith society

““Trust thyself; every heart vibrates to Trust thyself; every heart vibrates to that iron string.”that iron string.”

““A foolish consistency is the A foolish consistency is the hobglobin of little minds.”hobglobin of little minds.”

““To be great is to be misunderstood.”To be great is to be misunderstood.”

Homework: Critical QuestionsHomework: Critical Questions

The effect of “society” is to do what?The effect of “society” is to do what? What does it mean to conform in What does it mean to conform in

Emerson’s terms?Emerson’s terms? Why does Emerson see society as the Why does Emerson see society as the

enemy of individuality?enemy of individuality? What opens up a persons power of What opens up a persons power of

perception, of virtue, and of “the sense perception, of virtue, and of “the sense of being”?of being”?

What does Emerson mean when he What does Emerson mean when he says “envy is ignorance and imitation is says “envy is ignorance and imitation is suicide”?suicide”?

How is trust a part of being self-reliant?How is trust a part of being self-reliant? What is the role of nonconformity? What What is the role of nonconformity? What

does this word mean to Emerson?does this word mean to Emerson? What is a foolish consistency and does it What is a foolish consistency and does it

get in the way of genius?get in the way of genius?

from Fatefrom Fate

Contrast to NatureContrast to Nature Life is precariously poised between the Life is precariously poised between the

expansive freedom promised by the soul expansive freedom promised by the soul and the “fate” imposed by natural and and the “fate” imposed by natural and societal constraints around every lifesocietal constraints around every life

Fate = limitations, but even limitations Fate = limitations, but even limitations have their limitshave their limits

Power is the antagonist of FatePower is the antagonist of Fate

““So far as a man thinks, he is free.”So far as a man thinks, he is free.” “…“…yet it is wholesome to man to look not yet it is wholesome to man to look not

at Fate, but the other way”at Fate, but the other way”

Critical Questions from FateCritical Questions from Fate

How does the imagery used in Fate How does the imagery used in Fate contrast with that used in Nature?contrast with that used in Nature?

In what way has Emerson’s views on In what way has Emerson’s views on human freedom and potential for change human freedom and potential for change changed since his writing of Nature?changed since his writing of Nature?

Is he pessimistic or just realistic?Is he pessimistic or just realistic?