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Ralph Waldo Emerson

(1803-1882)

 

I.  The Importance of Emerson's Thought

 

        A.  Signals the movement from religion to philosophy

                1.  Unitarian Minister

                2.  Paid lecturer

       
        B.  Establishes American doctrine of individualism

                1.  The individual lives in nature

                2.  Self-reliance:  all must find their own truth

 

II.  The context of Emerson's thought

 

        A.  The frontier recedes

                1.  Boston becomes the center of the universe

                2.  New England becomes wealthy

                3.  Railroads and factories start to appear

 

        B.  Educated public seeks stimulation

                1.  Masses hungry for answers

                2.  Experimentation replaces orthodoxy

 

III.  Romanticism and Mysticism

 

        A.  Emerson and European romanticism

                1.  Poets and painters portray nature

                2.  Nature is the source of truth

        B.  Emerson's mystical experiences

                1.  He feels one with nature

                2.  Believes in spiritual communication


IV.  Emerson's Science

       

        A.  Sees evidence of evolution; survival of the fittest

        B.  There are laws of nature which man must discover

              and follow

 

V.  Emerson as Social, religious and literary Critic

 

        A.  Americans too materialistic

                1.  Lack true education

                2.  People only learn how to make money

 

        B.  No Worshipper of the Past

                1.  Americans must start a new literature

                2.  Rejects formalistic education and religion

                3.  Phi Beta Kappa speech 1837

       
         C.  Thinking and Doing

                1.  The intellectual must also act

                2.  "Only so much do I know, as I have lived."

                3.  Do not sacrifice your own views to gain

                     employment

                4.  If you stand fast, the world will come to you   

 

VI.  Emerson and the Transcendentalists

 

        A.  Transcendentalists:  Ways of Looking at them

                1.  Revolt against Unitarian "rationalism"

                2.  Radical protest against liberal "older

                     generation" at Harvard

                3.  A form of literature (Romantic)

                4.  Life style revolt:   "drop outs" and "hippies"

 

        B.  A Movement without Lasting Impact

                1.  Ideas less important than the revolt

                2.  Compare to the "youth revolt" of the 1960's

                3.  Important as example of revolt against

                     prevailing American "success" doctrine

 

        C.  Literary Legacy

 

                1.  Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

                     -- Civil Disobedience (1849)

                     --  Walden (1854)

                     --  Journals (14 volumes)

                2.  Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

                     --Leaves of Grass (12 editions, 1855-1892)