Ralph Waldo Emerson
Literary and philosophical scholars have long since characterized Ralph Waldo Emerson as one of the greatest thinkers in American history. Emerson’s philosophy of individualism is deeply rooted in the philosophy of such intellectuals as Kant, Plato, Swedenborg, and Pascal.
The New England Renaissance in American literature was in full swing by 1840 and lasted until about 1855. With the 1836 publication of his essay Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson, ushered in the movement known as Transcendentalism.
Emerson scholar, Robert Richardson, has written a book titled Emerson: A Mind on Fire. In this WGBH podcast of the same title, Richardson discusses his work and entertains questions from the audience. This is a 30-minute audio file.
As you listen to the WGBH podcast entitled Emerson: A Mind on Fire, contemplate this question: How does Emerson’s philosophy of individualism contrast with today’s concept of “I”? Richardson talks about what meaning Emerson still has for us today. He addresses the contrast in Emerson’s philosophy of individualism with the concept of individuality that we see in 21st century American society.
Please submit your 75-word response by Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 AM.
Other related resources:
Emerson Society
Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Image Attribution: http://www.ineedmotivation.com/blog/2008/10/23-powerful-quotes-from-ralph-waldo-emerson/
Robert D. Richardson tells the story of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He explains Emerson’s beliefs and his works. Emerson had multiple setbacks that led him to his thought of individuality. Emerson believed that he carries the universe within him. Richardson believes that Emerson effects Americans today through teaching that the world is not a great mess. Emerson thought that individualism was the start of something new. He believed that your mind is the only mind to start from. Emerson believed that individualism meant self-trust. In today’s world, people think of individualism as imperialistic. People today think that “I have my own mind and no one else’s matters”. Emerson thought that each individual mattered.
To me, it seems that Emerson’s philosophy of individualism is more about inventing yourself and your own style differently from the styles of those who came before you. It is also about relying on yourself and looking inside of you to find inspiration, rather than looking at others works for4 inspiration. While referring to “I” today, I believe that is more about gloating about your accomplishments even while inspiration comes from many different sources. Not acknowledging that one can not accomplish things without others.
I think Ralph Emerson’s perception of self is more of a refrence to your soul, rather than your literal self. He talks about how God nature and humanity are all connected. He says that’s what forms individualism. Emerson was in a sense “his own universe” and did not think of himself as we think of “I” today. The word “I” today carries a self centered and materialistic meaning. We think of ourselves, instead of being one with the world around us, as self-sufficient and we seem to think we have control over worldly things.
In Emerson: A Mind on Fire, Robert D. Richardson describes Emerson’s philosophy of individualism. Emerson endured many losses throughout his life that led him to the philosophy of individualism. He defined individualism as something that made everybody special and valued for being themselves, not for being selfish humans in society. In today’s society people are self centered and very materialistic. Emerson wanted people to examine their minds and to establish some self trust. Emerson wanted people to rely on themselves for inspiration but to still be considerate of others.
The podcast started off talking about Emerson’s beliefs and Ideas that brought about his idea of Individualism. This philosophy was mostly self- Trusted, meaning that your inspiration, encouragement, and ideas come from within you. Not really coming from the ideas of past philosophers. Richardson talks about Emerson’s concept of “I” is that no one mind is more important than another. All minds are unique and all minds are connected. In Emerson’s essay “Nature” he talks about how all minds are connected through nature.
What I think Emerson is saying is that individualism is a “starting point” or starting with your own mind. Individualism means self trust or believing in your self says Emerson. Also that each individual is a separate person and shouldn’t be grouped with others. He says that every day is the day of creation and the day of judgment. He believed each individual matters and that they are valued for being different. Emerson says that people think that Individualism is imperialistic or the creation and maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural and territorial relationship.
Richardson talks about Emerson having his idea of individualism and how it comes from with in you. He says that what makes individualism possible is that it is the one mind that is different from everyone elses, that one mind bases everything of the thoughts that only happen in that mind and not stolen from another. He says that it is only one mind that comes up with different ideas that are not based on anything other that the thouhts that occur in that mind alone. It is more of what that person’s mind is made up of and what it thinks about everything without any corruption of other thoughts from someone else or something. Today individualism is more vague and unpronounced, there are the select few who have an individualistic mind but it is not likely. Today people go off of what is happening in the world and influenced by what happens in it and what is in it. Today there are news channels that are biased in their way of presenting a story and in stores vendors only go off of “what is in style” that season. So, today people are more so followers af trends and thoughts of other people or things.
In Dr. Robert Richardson’s lecture on Emerson he describes Emerson’s belief in individualism. Emerson believed that individualism is a starting point and that we are supposed to start with our own mind. He describes the mind as the only window in the world that we truly have. The individualism that Emerson believed in was based on self truth and that each individual is valued for being different. Emerson’s view of individualism and non-conformity sharply contrast to today’s concept of “I” because “I” is talking about selfishess while Emerson is talking about valuing an individual. Today’s concept of “I” is about how revolves around me while Emerson is talking about being your own individual apart from the world.
In this podcast, Robert D. Richardson tells us about Emerson’s views on life and his philosophies. Emerson believed in individualism and that everyone should be their own person and should not conform to the ways of the world. Richardson agrees with Emerson and his way of seeing the world. We should not try to be like everyone else but instead we should focus more on what we ourselves have to offer to others.
Robert D. Richardson talks about Emerson’s life and his interests. Emerson’s works are explained and his thoughts are trying to be divulged by Richardson. Richardson’s book is read in bits and pieces. Richardson loves how Emerson is always talking about tangible ideas instead of all the abstract ideas expressed by most transcendental thinkers. Emerson’s life is marked with many loses and its ability to make something incredible out of his pain. Whenever he was in sorrow was when he made his best work. When people talk about “I”, its is a focus only on themselves and what they have done. Life is bigger than yourself.
I believe that Emerson’s philosophy of individualism can be compared with today’s concept of “I” by making your own unique relationships with the universe. Emerson wanted for everyone to make their connection with the universe, where YOU get your motivation from. With Emerson he made a relationship with his wife and wrote letters to her even after her death. Today, we each have our own reasons on why we get up every morning and do what we do. We dont copy someone else’s motives we create our own.
Emerson believed that the word “I” carried a different meaning than it does now. He supported the statement that “each individual matters,” and thought that everyone should be treated as an individual. Today we put people in many different groups and define each person by the group, or race, or country that they are in at the time. Emerson thought that this was by no means the right thing to do, and that each person should be valued as an individual.
Emersons idea of individualism is that no one is the same. Everyone has their own way of thinking, living, and seeing the ways of the world. He believed that a politcal matter wasn’t a political idea unless it was based off of an individual mind set, not what a society thinks. People see the world through each other, I think Emerson is saying that the world should be seen through ones one self. Each person is their own person, no one should be lumped together in order to view their life.
I believe that Emerson wrote A Mind on Fire with the hope that it would influence people of our day in time. Emerson’s beliefs in individualism and integrity of your own mind can still be applied to our lives today. Richardson described how Emerson thought that it was important to examine your own mind and have self trust and confidence in your own thoughts. This will lead you to accomplish anything you want to. I believe the world would be a better place in the 21st century if everyone abided by the beliefs of Emerson. His words of wisdom are important in present time because according to Emerson we can improve the world to a pattern that does not already exist.
When Emerson says individualism he is talking about respecting yourself enough to be who you want to be and not what other people tell you to be. Robert Richardson said that Emerson believed that individualism was also self-trust. it is a starting point. instead of starting a way a parent or anyone else tells you, start the way you want. That is how you know who you are. It is also not conforming to what society tells you, to be your own person and be valued for being seperate from everyone else. Now when we use “I” it is more like a selfish thought. like saying it is all about me i dont care about you. “I” to us is more of a way of self-sfficiancy.Today we also seem to form more groups rather than being on our own.
In the lecture, Mr. Richardson points out that that individulaism is the starting point. In order to figure out what to do you must look into your life and figure out who you really are. The difference between individualism now and the individualism of Emerson is the fact that these days we tend to do things that are often detramental and inconsiderate simply because we want to and it makes us feel good. Emerson was all about individualism being used to find onesself. He believed that a truly great society must start with individuals who behave like themselves and are respected for it. It was for improvement of the self. Today it has morphed into destructive rebelliousness and selfishness.
In this podcast Richardson talks about Emersons life and ideas. Emerson tought that being an individual and being self reliant. He valued the thought of someone being an individual because it made people more unique. Todays “I” has a very selfish and materialistic meaning. Emerson would have wanted us to get a deeper meaning in ourslefs and to find inspirations ourselves rather than look for others to do it.
Emerson’s idea of individualism is quite different than the concept of “I”. The “I” that we live in today, is more about how everything is about me. I am better than you so the world should revolve around me. Emerson’s individualism is more about everyone being unique. Each person must be their own person and not conform to the world. When you come up with your own ideas, and don’t care about what others think, you are embracing his idea of individualism.
After reading this short bio on Emerson, I have learned that in many ways, Emerson appears to be a rebel for this time period. Emerson was one of the first people to strongly encourage self-reliance, and free worship. In the early days of America’s existence as a country, religion was centered souly on the church. People that did not attend services at the local church were looked down upon. Emerson suggested that people could find religion by expanding outward; particularly towards nature. Emerson also sparked the idea that God and Nature were linked. This is one of the key values in which Transcendentalism was set upon.
Robert D. Richardson discusses Ralph Waldo Emerson and his belief in individualism. Emerson believed that each individual mattered; each person being special and different. In order for one to completely understand this philosophy, Emerson says that one must look to self for motivation and self-renewal. Individualism is different from the “I” mentality because in today’s society people look to self as the only being that matters. People are selfish and believe themselves to be above others in their everyday lives. If today people were to embrace individualism people would able to get along with one another because of their high expectations of one another.
Emerson had a very original view. I believe that Emerson wanted to get the point across that individualism is about seaching within yourself and finding your answers within yourself instead of society. He believed that he could find all of his answers and himself within himself. Today, we tend to view it the complete opposite. We tend to look to materialistic things and put ourselves before other in a selfish way instead of the view of Emerson.