Emerson’s Nature
Transcendentalism core value is Nature as Emerson points out that the fundamental context of our lives is nature. Philosophically, Emerson deems that the universe is made up of nature and the soul, or nature and consciousness. Everything that is not me is nature; nature thus includes nature (green world), art, all other persons and my own body. While Romanticists regard the nature as escapism from Industrial Revolution, Emerson brings the broader meaning and function of Nature to men. The most important result of Emerson’s long engagement with nature is the publication of "Nature" in 1836.
Emerson’s ideas about nature as written in Nature (1836).
1) Nature as a source of spiritual guide and a way to know God.
Standing on the bare ground, my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, all mean egoism vanishes. I become a transparent eye ball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or parcel of God.
2) Nature as a source of inspiration and knowledge.
The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence.
3) Nature as a source of delight and wisdom.
The flowers, the animals, the mountain, reflected the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood.
4) Nature as the most reliable standards of beauty.
Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man exhort her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection.
5) Nature is the best resort for men to commune
To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society. I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me.
In conclusion, Emerson believes nature rather than tradition, authority or state is the best teacher to men. Emerson contends nature as a theory of all things such as how things are, it is a guide to life, a foundation for philosophy, art, language, education and everyday living. Such claims are the most valuable value of nature that, without a doubt, we all agreed upon.
|
This entry was posted on 9:14 AM and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
0 comments: