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Dr. Marc D. Baldwin Ralph Waldo Emerson Copyright 2005 © by Marc D. Baldwin, PhD.

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Dr. Marc D. Baldwin Dr. Marc D. Baldwin Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Copyright 2005 © by Marc D. Baldwin, PhD
Transcript

Dr. Marc D. BaldwinDr. Marc D. Baldwin

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo EmersonCopyright 2005 © by Marc D. Baldwin, PhD

IntroductionIntroduction

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) domesticated philosophy, bringing it down domesticated philosophy, bringing it down to earth and making it accessible to the to earth and making it accessible to the common man. common man.

Making generous use of analogies, E can Making generous use of analogies, E can be very hyperbolic, claiming grand visions. be very hyperbolic, claiming grand visions.

Carlyle’s InfluenceCarlyle’s Influence

One of E’s primary influences was the British One of E’s primary influences was the British philosopher and writer, Thomas Carlyle, who philosopher and writer, Thomas Carlyle, who wrote of man’s need to celebrate the "wonder" of wrote of man’s need to celebrate the "wonder" of nature and that any object is a symbol of God nature and that any object is a symbol of God and could serve as a "window" to "infinitude" and could serve as a "window" to "infinitude" with the right point of view . with the right point of view . "What is life but the angle of vision?" asked "What is life but the angle of vision?" asked Carlyle. Carlyle. Like Carlyle, E felt that the problems we face are Like Carlyle, E felt that the problems we face are not in the world itself but in man's manner of not in the world itself but in man's manner of regarding the world. regarding the world.

RomanticistRomanticist

E is a romantic in that he's forever E is a romantic in that he's forever pursuing the unattainable reconciliation of pursuing the unattainable reconciliation of those disparate opposites—a neo‑Platonic those disparate opposites—a neo‑Platonic Idealism vs. a hard boiled, homegrown Idealism vs. a hard boiled, homegrown American Realism. American Realism.

Please see my Lecture on Romanticism.Please see my Lecture on Romanticism.

TranscendentalistTranscendentalist

E is also a Transcendentalist. E is also a Transcendentalist.

Please see my Lecture on that subject.Please see my Lecture on that subject.

OrganicismOrganicism

E believed in the principle of organicism, seeking the E believed in the principle of organicism, seeking the "marriage of thought and things": seeing a doubleness in "marriage of thought and things": seeing a doubleness in the importance of particulars to illustrate general truths. the importance of particulars to illustrate general truths. He used images of physical things as metaphors of He used images of physical things as metaphors of spiritual profundities. spiritual profundities. Much like Melville’s Moby Dick, William Wordsworth's Much like Melville’s Moby Dick, William Wordsworth's lakes, or Mark Twain’s Mississippi River, his images lakes, or Mark Twain’s Mississippi River, his images relate to unseen spiritual sources or forces. relate to unseen spiritual sources or forces. This belief is derived from S. T. Coleridge’s stance that a This belief is derived from S. T. Coleridge’s stance that a literary work grows from a seed, a germinal idea, and literary work grows from a seed, a germinal idea, and what makes it grow is a miraculous spiritual energy. what makes it grow is a miraculous spiritual energy.

PantheismPantheism

E saw no basic hostilities in nature and no radical evil in E saw no basic hostilities in nature and no radical evil in man; thus, he was to some degree at least a pantheist. man; thus, he was to some degree at least a pantheist. He believed that there’s a god‑like force in nature and He believed that there’s a god‑like force in nature and that the external world reflects an invisible inner reality. that the external world reflects an invisible inner reality. E wanted to express himself as nature worked: not E wanted to express himself as nature worked: not consciously by design but naturally, organically. consciously by design but naturally, organically. E was a "witness" giving testimony about the source and E was a "witness" giving testimony about the source and force of Pantheism. force of Pantheism. He was led to this belief primarily as a reaction against He was led to this belief primarily as a reaction against what he saw as rampant materialism and what he saw as rampant materialism and commercialism. commercialism.

The “Sublime”The “Sublime”

E also relished what he called the E also relished what he called the “Sublime”“Sublime”: : not just the pretty or not just the pretty or picturesque, but those things and ideas picturesque, but those things and ideas and moments that bring with them a and moments that bring with them a feeling of extreme "awe." feeling of extreme "awe." He wished to be struck dumb by He wished to be struck dumb by witnessing the spiritual in the material, witnessing the spiritual in the material, often through a often through a correspondencecorrespondence with with Nature. Nature.

The Doctrine of CorrespondenceThe Doctrine of Correspondence

In fact, this is one of E’s doctrines, the In fact, this is one of E’s doctrines, the Doctrine of Correspondence—that the Doctrine of Correspondence—that the whole natural world corresponds to the whole natural world corresponds to the spiritual world. spiritual world.

Over-SoulOver-Soul

Over‑soul: Furthermore, E believed in an Over-Over‑soul: Furthermore, E believed in an Over-soul, a universal, collective unconsciousness, an soul, a universal, collective unconsciousness, an inner light or animating force where what is “Me” inner light or animating force where what is “Me” and what is “Not‑Me” are joined. and what is “Not‑Me” are joined.

All of nature, including the body, is “Not‑Me”; All of nature, including the body, is “Not‑Me”; only the soul is “Me.” only the soul is “Me.”

This is the equivalent of Wordsworth’s "spots of This is the equivalent of Wordsworth’s "spots of time" in which we transcend this world and time" in which we transcend this world and become one with Nature.become one with Nature.

NatureNature

This work is E's manifesto: a rhapsodic, prose This work is E's manifesto: a rhapsodic, prose poem that asks the essential question: What is poem that asks the essential question: What is the purpose of Nature? the purpose of Nature?

Replete with the American themes of Replete with the American themes of egalitarianism, self‑reliance, and individualism, egalitarianism, self‑reliance, and individualism, NatureNature posits that "Words are signs of natural posits that "Words are signs of natural facts...Every natural fact is a symbol of some facts...Every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact... [and] the whole of nature is a spiritual fact... [and] the whole of nature is a metaphor of the human mind."metaphor of the human mind."

NatureNature (continued)(continued)

Throughout all of Throughout all of Nature,Nature, Emerson stresses this Emerson stresses this correspondence between visible things and human correspondence between visible things and human thoughts, noting how words operate as symbols and that thoughts, noting how words operate as symbols and that man can corrupt the language and pervert the meanings man can corrupt the language and pervert the meanings of words. of words. The whole world, in fact, is "emblematic," and the "whole The whole world, in fact, is "emblematic," and the "whole of nature is a metaphor." of nature is a metaphor." Thus, man must be disciplined to understand the Thus, man must be disciplined to understand the spiritual truths and to "build" his "own world" out of "the spiritual truths and to "build" his "own world" out of "the pure idea" in his mind. pure idea" in his mind. When he does that, when he "marries Matter and Mind," When he does that, when he "marries Matter and Mind," he will enjoy an "influx of the spirit" and begin to see he will enjoy an "influx of the spirit" and begin to see things in "great proportions."things in "great proportions."

WonderWonder

For E, seeing things with “a transparent eyeball” For E, seeing things with “a transparent eyeball” allows man to experience life and existence with allows man to experience life and existence with a sense of wonder. a sense of wonder. Remember, the American writer, unlike writers Remember, the American writer, unlike writers just about anywhere else, had little history or just about anywhere else, had little history or tradition to work with. tradition to work with. So much was brand new and too big to So much was brand new and too big to comprehend about the country and the comprehend about the country and the continent. continent. Thus, awe and wonder were the order of the Thus, awe and wonder were the order of the thinking man’s day.thinking man’s day.

““The American Scholar”The American Scholar”

In fact, E issued a challenge to all scholars and In fact, E issued a challenge to all scholars and would-be scholars: to see themselves as “Man would-be scholars: to see themselves as “Man thinking.” thinking.” In "The American Scholar," Emerson contends In "The American Scholar," Emerson contends that the "sublime" doctrine posits "that there is that the "sublime" doctrine posits "that there is One Man," yet society forces its "members" to One Man," yet society forces its "members" to specialize so that they've "suffered amputation," specialize so that they've "suffered amputation," having become "metamorphosed into a thing." having become "metamorphosed into a thing." Thus, society has divided an otherwise unified Thus, society has divided an otherwise unified nature by seeing people as things, valuable only nature by seeing people as things, valuable only in a material sense. in a material sense.

““Self-Reliance”Self-Reliance”

Another of E’s masterpieces, "Self‑Reliance" stresses Another of E’s masterpieces, "Self‑Reliance" stresses the connection between the self and god-like nature. the connection between the self and god-like nature. Emerson encourages us to "accept the place the divine Emerson encourages us to "accept the place the divine providence has found" for us because our providence has found" for us because our "Self‑existence is the attribute of the Supreme Cause." "Self‑existence is the attribute of the Supreme Cause." As a finite, individual part of an infinite, collective whole, As a finite, individual part of an infinite, collective whole, we are one with organic nature and our "soul becomes." we are one with organic nature and our "soul becomes." Once we recognize and accept that "the man is at one Once we recognize and accept that "the man is at one with God," then we can become our individual selves, with God," then we can become our individual selves, something we must do, for "imitation is suicide." something we must do, for "imitation is suicide."

““Self-Reliance” Self-Reliance” (continued)(continued)

This essay overflows with Emerson's faith in the This essay overflows with Emerson's faith in the individual who recognizes his correspondence to the individual who recognizes his correspondence to the "Over‑Soul" and employs his intuition in his quest to "see "Over‑Soul" and employs his intuition in his quest to "see truly." truly." According to Emerson, you "must be a non‑conformist," According to Emerson, you "must be a non‑conformist," "speak the rude truth," and hold sacred "the integrity of "speak the rude truth," and hold sacred "the integrity of your own mind." your own mind." Individuals "can and must detach themselves" from men Individuals "can and must detach themselves" from men who "measure their esteem of each other by what each who "measure their esteem of each other by what each has, and not by what each is." has, and not by what each is." The self‑reliant individual must shun the materialism of The self‑reliant individual must shun the materialism of society for "nothing can bring you peace but yourself. society for "nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles." principles."

““Self-Reliance” Self-Reliance” (continued)(continued)

Here are some more brilliant lines and thought-Here are some more brilliant lines and thought-provoking concepts from SR: provoking concepts from SR: "Society everywhere is in a conspiracy against "Society everywhere is in a conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members."the manhood of every one of its members.""Whoso would be a man must be a "Whoso would be a man must be a non‑conformist."non‑conformist.""Trust thyself.""Trust thyself.""A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." minds." "To be great is to be misunderstood.""To be great is to be misunderstood.""Traveling is a fool's paradise.""Traveling is a fool's paradise."

ConclusionConclusion

An intellectual liberator, E has been an An intellectual liberator, E has been an enormous influence on American thought, enormous influence on American thought, politics, and society. politics, and society. However, as some of the preceding quotes However, as some of the preceding quotes suggest, the Emersonian individual must be suggest, the Emersonian individual must be fairly well-balanced, well-educated, and well-fairly well-balanced, well-educated, and well-meaning. meaning. For those people who are not, his philosophies For those people who are not, his philosophies easily can be faulted for their overly-optimistic, easily can be faulted for their overly-optimistic, idealistic, and visionary nature. idealistic, and visionary nature.


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