Your task is to choose one of the five quotes below and interpret it in the comments below. Each quote comes from one of the three essay excerpts we've read so far. You can either write an original post, or look at something another has posted and write your own interpretation building on theirs - to do this, click "reply" under their comment. If you reply to multiple people and get a discussion going, you'll receive some extra credit, too.
Quote 1, "Nature": Tradition The foregoing generations beheld God and nature face to face; we, through their eyes. We should not we also enjoy an original relation to the universe? Why should we not have a poetry and philosophy of insight, and not of tradition? (The) sun sines today also; there is more wool and flax in the field... Let us demand our own works and laws and worship. Quote 2, "Nature": The Over-Soul Standing on the bare ground - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing; I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me. I am part or particle of God. (The) Supreme Being does not build up nature around us, but puts it forth through us, as the life of the tree puts forth new branches and leaves. Quote 3, "Self-Reliance": Nonconformism Society is a (corporation) in which the members agree, for better securing his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eaters. The virtue in most request is conformity. (Society) loves no realities and creators, but names and customs. (Do) not be hindered by the name of goodness, but explore if it BE goodness... Quote 4, "Self-Reliance": Intuition Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron String. The essence of genius, of virtue, of life, (is) that which we call spontaneity or Instinct, (our) primary wisdom...We lie in the lap of immense Intelligence, which makes us receivers of its truth and organs of its activity. (To these) involuntary perceptions a perfect faith is due. Quote 5, "Fate": Freedom The lightning which explodes and fashions planets is in (us). On one side (is) elemental order, (and) on the other, Thought, the spirit which composes and decomposes nature. (We) cannot deny (human) free-will. (If you) say Fate is all; then we say, a part of fate is the freedom of Man. Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free. Happy posting!
96 Comments
Galina Gordon
9/25/2016 06:02:54 am
~Quote 2~
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Charlotte Jansky
9/25/2016 04:15:32 pm
I agree; Emerson believes in his philosophy Transcendentalism. He feels like the “Universal Spirit” is in anything and everything. In Nature, he feels as if he is completely surrounded by the divine spirit and is at peace with himself and everything around him.
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Biggs
9/26/2016 08:21:06 am
Great use of the word "theology" (which, if people haven't heard it, refers to a theory of religion: theo + logos). Do you think Emerson's religious ideas are more like metaphors - a way of poetically expressing how he felt? If so, does that mean we shouldn't take them seriously as a spiritual perspective?
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Charlotte Jansky
9/25/2016 04:04:26 pm
~Quote 3~
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Aidan Butler
9/26/2016 07:19:12 am
I agree he is very about the idea of being a free individual and living your life they way you want. he believes in living how you feel fit and not listening to those who will try to change you.
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Christina Wichmann
9/27/2016 08:29:43 am
I agree Charlotte; I think that Emerson was stressing the importance of being unique, and out of the box thinker, in order to bring goodness into the world. I think Emerson himself brought goodness into the world by breaking society's rules and being a non-conformist. Without inspiring people like him the world would never change, we would always follow our ancestors ways.
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Aidan Butler
9/26/2016 07:15:05 am
~Quote 5~
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Biggs
9/26/2016 07:55:28 am
What is the difference between the elemental and the spiritual? What makes physical matter "unfree" while the spiritual/mental side of humans allows free will? This is a complicated thought so let's see if we can break Emerson's ideas down. Think about the concept of "natural laws."
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Jackie Prestininzi
9/26/2016 09:05:26 am
I think the difference of elemental and spiritually is that elemental refers to physical properties around us. Spiritually refers to thoughts and elements in your soul and your mind. Physical matter is not free unlike the spiritual side, because there you can think anything you want or believe anything you want. No one can stop you for thinking what you want. However on the elemental side, physical elements are not free and people can take them away from you.
Aislinn Butler
9/26/2016 09:19:47 am
I agree with Jackie. Spiritual refers to emotion and how people think and feel. Your spirit is free to think and feel how it wants, therefor it is free. Elemental refers to physical objects and non living things. These things can't think for themselves and feel therefor they are not free.
Jackie Prestininzi
9/26/2016 08:24:33 am
~Quote 2~
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Cristina Persico
9/27/2016 03:37:25 pm
I agree, Emerson believes that God is in every aspect of our lives and everything we do is God and everything we do is because of God. So basically God is literally everything from a chair to a person God is in everything. A little piece of God is in everything
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Aislinn Butler
9/26/2016 09:16:22 am
~Quote 3~
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Sima Vaidya
9/26/2016 06:11:25 pm
I agree with Aislinn. Society has set its views on how a person is supposed to live. Nobody can go outside of their comfort zone and try new things that no one else has. If they do, then society will start considering them an outsider or outcast.
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Colleen Dougan
9/26/2016 09:20:45 am
~Quote 5~
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Sinead Henderson
9/26/2016 10:16:42 am
Quote 4
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Biggs
9/26/2016 11:54:11 am
But what is the "Iron String" about? What's with the "immense Intelligence"? What does that "perfect faith" look like if we achieve it in life? You definitely get the gist of the quote, so go deeper into the diction and subtler references here.
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Summer Smith
9/26/2016 11:17:25 am
Quote 3
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Christina Wichmann
9/26/2016 11:38:53 am
I agree with Summer; I think a person who follows traditions of the past, are not being their true selves. They are only repeating what a relative did many years before. They aren't changing or doing what they believe they should do.
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Biggs
9/26/2016 12:03:09 pm
How far does that go, though? Even Emerson continued to dress like the average person and spend time in the company of society. When one of his friends, Henry David Thoreau, decided to take things farther and moved himself into the woods to live more simply, Emerson found it too extreme. What does it REALLY mean to stop following the traditions of the past? To separate yourself entirely, or to simply broaden your mind? Is it worse to go too far, or not far enough?
Mia Conti
9/27/2016 03:27:23 pm
I agree with Summer about the whole idea with individuality, but I also think Emerson is talking a lot about being able to "count on yourself". A lot of decisions, almost all, are based off your own opinion. But our society as a whole is beginning to base individual opinions off others, being afraid they are wrong.
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Cristina Persico
9/27/2016 03:39:37 pm
I agree Mia but isn't individuality being able to count on yourself because you are speaking as an idividual rather than counting on others.
Donovan Turner
11/8/2016 07:03:41 pm
I agree with Summer. A problem with our society is everyone wants to be like everyone else in the hopes of being cool and accepted. Emerson believes more people need to break from the pack and carve their own path. That being said, you need to make sure you keep ties with society and not go to far when moving away from it. You want to make your own path, but make it possible for others to follow you too. Emerson challenges people to think on their own and make their own traditions instead of following them.
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Christina Wichmann
9/26/2016 11:35:15 am
Quote 3
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Sima Vaidya
9/27/2016 08:31:45 am
I agree with Christina. Emerson wants people to break out of their comfort zone and explore what the world has to offer, rather than staying and living in the limits society has created. I do have one question though. How will society change its rules and restrictions if they judge people who act differently and not follow society's rules?
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Hailey Chace
9/27/2016 06:07:43 pm
I agree with Christina. Emerson says creativity and goodness are lost when society fails to change, I believe he is correct. If people don't conform to a new society they will be stuck in the past. This relates to creativity, because people can gain creativity every day from new things. However, when people stay stuck in societies with strict rules they never witness anything new or creative.
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Patrick Sullivan
9/26/2016 05:20:47 pm
In the fifth quote, I think it may be hard to see what the author is truly saying. For example, in the beginning of the quote it argues the idea of fate being all because man can alter fate with his beliefs and actions. At the very end of the quote the argument takes a quick turn. In the beginning of the quote it says man can alter fate, but at the end it brings up the possibility of fate controlling mans beliefs by saying "Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.". Because of the argument changing at the end of the article, it maybe hard for a reader to find out the main argument of the article.
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Biggs
9/27/2016 08:34:42 am
To "annul" is to get rid of, so when Emerson says "intellect annuls fate" he's not changing his position, but repeating it in different words. If anything, he suggests even more strongly that, to quote you, "man can alter fate with his beliefs and actions."
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Craig Scharmann
9/27/2016 03:02:06 pm
I think that this is an interesting point to bring up. I can see where your thinking led you to believe that there were multiple arguments within that quote. I agree with you to a point, but contrary to your statement, I think that when Emerson says, " So far as a man thinks, he is free," he means that fate cannot chain someone to a certain road, but rather if he can think, he can make a conscious decision to change his mind and pursue a different road.
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Patrick Sullivan
9/26/2016 05:38:10 pm
Mr. Biggs's question:
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Marc Brewer
9/26/2016 05:41:57 pm
Quote 1
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Brendan Loftus
9/27/2016 01:36:09 pm
Yes, I would say that Emerson is trying to convey the importance of individuality. In all of his works that we've read, he tries to convey that message above all others. The transcendentalism isn't quite so much our own personal connection with God though. I believe it is the idea that God exists within all, be it nature or in man. The whole Idea of transcendentalism is that anyone and anything has the capacity to be extraordinary and that we all have the Divine Spark. Just thought I should put this down... Love you Marrrrrrccccc. :)
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Sima Vaidya
9/26/2016 06:03:33 pm
Quote 2-
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Anna Moore
9/27/2016 05:22:46 pm
I agree Sima, and along with nobody there to share their ideas, there is nothing to affect you in nature. There is no media or people and you can actually be your true self at your deepest core. By doing this, God can be able to communicate with you and you can feel him everywhere because he is everywhere.
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Hailey Chace
9/27/2016 06:13:42 pm
I agree with Sima. If someone is surrounded by no humans being or someone who is share their ideas with you then you have no one clouding your thoughts. Your thoughts become unaffected by others. And according to Emerson's thought about god being everything, he is correct because he has no one to change his thought about this.
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kayleigh Murray
9/26/2016 06:11:56 pm
~Quote 5~
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Cyntaia Birch
9/26/2016 06:14:28 pm
Quote 2 where he says " I become a transparent eyeball, I am nothing, I see nothing. The currents if the universal being circulated through me". Usually I would think well yea Emerson is talking about being a ghost and going to heaven, but I think he was talking about feeling like no one saw him.. Everyone just walked by like he never existed, until he realized God put him in that position to teach him a lesson. Everyone doesn't have to know you exist in order for you to stand out.
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Biggs
9/28/2016 07:00:01 am
This goes along with his nonconformism. It's not about being recognized by others, but about what YOU recognize in the world. The connection to heaven makes sense too because he's identifying the part of him that is in touch with God (and finding that in nature, not church). Have we seen a similar theme in other works we've read, like Emily Dickinson?
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Harrison Jones
9/26/2016 06:29:46 pm
~Quote 3~
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Biggs
9/27/2016 08:30:17 am
Say we wanted to take Emerson's advice today. What are some aspects of present-day society's "ideology"? And what would it mean to break away from it?
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Harrison Jones
9/27/2016 12:08:32 pm
Many small rules and obligations are in today's society like not asking certain things to certain people, and keeping other things to yourself. Almost like PC, but that is also a huge chunk of it on it's own. Breaking away from it could be challenging it, like questioning what you can say and going against it by changing how you speak to butt heads with the rules. However this wouldn't make too much of a difference, and is more geared towards making society break away from you, instead of you breaking away from society. What Emerson wants is the latter, for you to find your own "goodness" and choose your own path.
Shealyn Russell
9/26/2016 06:59:50 pm
Quote 4, "Self-Reliance": Intuition
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Brigid Clanton-Calnan
9/26/2016 07:12:41 pm
In quote three Emerson explains how as a whole, people in society tend to follow the laws more. Society maintains the rules from generations ago. No one will accept another person who breaks society's rules, will be judged. As a result, no one will be able to live in the present, for they will be living with the daunting memory and the restrictions of the past. With this Emerson stresses that every once and a while we need to break society's rules. It will lead others to do so too and a revision of societies rules and restrictions will be made, allowing people of this generation to truly be self relevant.
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Biggs
9/27/2016 08:32:43 am
Do you think it is "natural," meaning instinctual, to follow other people? Some, like the philosophers Friedrich Nietzsche and Rene Girard, argue that we have a "herd instinct" that drives us to imitate other people. So, is the problem Emerson describes a constant one for human societies? And can it ever be really overcome?
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Brigid Clanton-Calnan
9/27/2016 05:17:22 pm
Although I want it to be false, we as human beings have this natural instinct to follow others. As a society I believe that we can overcome it. We as Americans have overcome so much in our history and we shouldn't let a little bit of our human nature get in the way of these problems.
Murray Elinson
9/29/2016 08:21:00 pm
I think that following other people is natural for humans. I do think that the problem Emerson describes is a constant one for human societies because humans follow each other and base their ideas off other. I think it becomes a problem when one loses oneself because they were to focused on what society wanted them to be. I so not think that this would ever be overcome because our communication of ideas spread to many and these ideas are thought and redesigned by a large population that makes it impossible for people to not follow others.
Amira
9/27/2016 04:30:01 pm
I feel Brigid is right when she says "no one will accept another person who breaks society's rules", An example is shown throughout the history of the United States and beyond. Centuries ago and not to long ago in the twentieth century people believed things like men were superior to women (wrong) and that if you were gay/ a lesbian you were crazy (also wrong). This is shown with Dale Harding in Cuckoo's Nest. Dale was a well educated, caring guy, but even though he was married, he was gay, this lead to Harding hiding in the hospital because people told him being gay was immoral, wrong, etc and he believed it. Society has a strong impact on some people like Harding. Emerson encourages us to be the ones who let what society says roll of your back and be who you were meant to be
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Grace Noglows
9/27/2016 05:44:37 pm
I agree with Brigid because people are afraid to be different because they may be afraid of being looked at differently or even just knowing they are not being like the other people.
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Erin Rooy
9/26/2016 08:37:06 pm
~Quote 4~
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Michael Dandrea
9/27/2016 08:17:25 am
I believe that Emerson is saying that free-will and fate both help create the path that you take in life. Fate is the part that is pre-determined, while free-will is the path that you choose as a person. He is saying that a person can change their life by choosing the path they take, but not by altering their fate.
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Michael Dandrea
9/27/2016 08:19:09 am
This was quote 5.
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Biggs
9/28/2016 07:01:25 am
How do we know what is fate and what is free will? Emerson would probably say that breaking away from fate means going with gut feelings. But gut feelings are part of your body, and your body is controlled by natural instinct for the most part. Where does free will come in? This is an age-old question, but what do you think?
Ray Forbes
9/27/2016 08:20:34 am
~Quote 5~
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Jack Niesz
9/27/2016 08:28:55 am
Quote 5 introduces the two new ways of thinking. The elemental way is using the things around you to think. The spiritual way is using what is already in your mind to think. The spiritual way is free because you can think about anything you want because it is in your mind. The elemental is probably more effective because you are using your surroundings.
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Biggs
9/28/2016 06:55:55 am
But the elemental also refers to nature. With the exception of us, nature doesn't seem to involve thinking. So what is Emerson saying about the relationship of human thought to the non-thinking existence of trees and rocks? What's the connection?
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Emily Rothberg
9/28/2016 08:32:11 am
The connection is that because of human thought, we are given a "power" over the elemental sector of living. "Thought, the spirit which composes and decomposes nature." We have such a rule over nature and "non-thinking trees and rocks" because we are the force which shapes the fate of nature through Thought.
Hannah Nishiura
9/27/2016 12:40:54 pm
quote 2
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Quinn Moore
9/27/2016 04:50:51 pm
I agree, Emerson is expressing his way of pantheism and transcendentalism throughout this quote. He talks of how all things including himself, trees, grass, and soil all have god within them. God is everywhere and especially in nature. It is there he is able to have clear open minded view on things like when he called himself a "transparent eye".
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Emily Rothberg
9/28/2016 08:24:48 am
Emerson's thoughts toward God and the "Supreme Being" also led to his creation of Transcendentalism - a belief that spirituality and intuitive take greater importance than mere material, worldly goods. As you said, he feels God's presence in him and everything around him therefore treating all of life and life's possessions as though spiritual or godly. He saw God as spread out on the vastness of Earth.
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Brendan Loftus
9/27/2016 01:26:54 pm
~Quote 3~
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Amira
9/27/2016 04:20:29 pm
I agree with Brendan when he says that society controls what you do, if you let them and also agree that society will take your liberty, if you let them. Society wants everyone to be happy, which leads to the silencing of opinions and the limit to some possibilities with thing like safe spaces. They try to protect feeling, which leads to frustration of those silenced.
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Biggs
9/28/2016 06:58:24 am
So Emerson would want us to put freedom over security/safety/feelings when the two conflict (great Franklin quote here, Brendan)! Two questions here:
Brendan Loftus
9/28/2016 05:29:01 pm
In response to your questions Mr. Biggs:
Evelyn Sullivan
9/27/2016 01:49:43 pm
I'm quote 3, "self-reliance" I believe Emerson is saying how society constantly has people act, dress, and live their lives a certain way based off what everyone is doing. People are afraid to step outside their comfort zone because it would be going against society, and as Emerson says in the quote society is now like a "corporation". He says that no one wants to have reality and someone criticizing them, because following the rules is their "goodness". But to Emerson "goodness" can't be copied from everyone, you have to explore to find it.
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Grace Noglows
9/27/2016 05:41:46 pm
I agree with Evelyn when she says "people are afraid to step out of their comfort zones", because society in a way controls people. It makes them think that they can only do normal things because they are afraid of being judged.
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Craig Scharmann
9/27/2016 02:45:37 pm
Quotela 5
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Lauren Marcolus
9/27/2016 02:55:21 pm
—Quote 4--
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Desiree Marshall
9/27/2016 03:20:07 pm
Quote 3
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Colleen Dougan
9/27/2016 03:41:57 pm
I agree with Desiree that we should not conform to what Society grants as necessary or the "social norm". Emerson is trying to tell us that it is okay to be ourselves because we can then exceed the expectations of Society. The more you are an individual, the better. However, when you think about it, can you ever be an individual? Emerson thinks otherwise, but I believe that the more you live and learn your individuality grows and improves your understanding of yourself.
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Hailey Chace
9/27/2016 06:20:31 pm
I agree with Desiree. When Emerson says that societies rules don't change because we follow them, this means we are conforming to the standard rules. This is where I agree with Desiree, I think we should think what we want and follow it. We shouldn't follow society, because if we did, then we would be letting society control our judgment.
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Julia Rousseau
9/27/2016 03:55:18 pm
Quote one begins by explaining how our older generations were more in touch with nature because they had to be. They depended on the forces of nature for their very existence. Working in the field and tending to the animals was a daily job necessary for their survival. But then it questions why we should not have our own unique relationship with nature and the universe. Our relationship is original to our generation. In some ways it is more advanced. We have the technology to grow more advanced foods and healthier animals. Our crops are more plentiful. But that should not stop us from enjoying and appreciating the beauty in the world around us.
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Ethan Christensen
9/27/2016 04:07:01 pm
I believe that this quote is saying that nobody can deny their fate. But everyone is still free to make their own decisions and think for themselves. People will only follow their fate if they think for themselves. What he's saying is most people see their fate or their destiny as something that holds them down, but what Emerson is saying is that its not like that but something that liberates someones mind. As long as they think freely they'll follow their fate and as long as they follow their fate they'll be free.
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Amira Ibrahim
9/27/2016 04:15:49 pm
Quote 3
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Quinn Moore
9/27/2016 04:31:58 pm
Quote 2:
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Jacob Swartz
9/27/2016 04:39:36 pm
Quote 5-
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Anna Moore
9/27/2016 05:11:00 pm
Quote 5:
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Trinity McQuillan
9/27/2016 07:45:47 pm
I agree that a lot of people live their lives with influence from others especially those that are close to you like your family or friends but I believe the description matches quote 1 more than quote 5.
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Anna Moore
9/28/2016 07:07:21 am
Yes that was meant to go to quote. I wrote the wrong number.
Shea Grant
9/27/2016 05:20:07 pm
Quote Number 1
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Murray Elinson
9/27/2016 08:29:14 pm
I think you hit the nail on the head with this interpretation. I think that Emerson is saying in this essay that we need to not live by tradition and by how we are supposed to live but we should live in the present and not let the past dictate the present.
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Biggs
9/28/2016 06:54:29 am
Definitely on track ... why "wool" and "flax" though? Wool comes from sheep, flax can be used as food ... Any thoughts on the symbolism here?
Grace Noglows
9/27/2016 05:38:34 pm
In quote number 3, Emerson is saying that he is apart of something that everyone does. He is saying that our society loves being normal and safe instead of being crazy and adventurous. He wants to make his readers see the bigger picture of society. Emerson likes to be different from other peoples. He thinks that people should be adventurous and not just do normal things because it adds excitement to their life. Society tries to get everyone to be alike. It makes people think that if they are not doing what is ‘normal’, then they will be judged. This quote make the readers start to think about living their life differently.
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Hailey Chace
9/27/2016 06:32:33 pm
~quote 3~
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Seamus Fields
9/27/2016 07:04:30 pm
~Quote 5~
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Murray Elinson
9/27/2016 08:26:19 pm
I agree with your first statement that he is suggesting that humans are free to do as they please but I disagree with your second statement. Emerson states that, "a part of fate is the freedom of Man", and this means that fate is based on the decisions that people make which determines their future(Emerson).
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Sophia Morales
9/27/2016 07:23:43 pm
Quote 2
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Trinity McQuillan
9/27/2016 07:37:51 pm
Quote Number 2
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John Tuohy
9/27/2016 07:51:37 pm
~Quote 3~
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Murray Elinson
9/27/2016 08:21:18 pm
I agree with you because in this quote Emerson really hits the point that society is becoming more of a standard of what people are supposed to do than what they actually want to do. I think that in a sense people focus so much on what society wants them to be that they lose the part of them that makes them creative and that part of them that wants to be his/herself. I also agree that he suggests that people should not let society repress them because in the last line he states, "Do not be hindered by the name of goodness, but explore if it be goodness"(Emerson). This line states that do not listen to society, instead look into what you want to do.
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Robbie Demarco
9/27/2016 08:01:05 pm
-Quote 4-
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Murray Elinson
9/27/2016 08:10:28 pm
Quote Number 5
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Ethan Bennett
9/28/2016 04:22:53 am
Quote 1:
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Murray Elinson
9/29/2016 08:26:13 pm
I agree with you about the meaning behind that quote but I ask you, do you think that returning to our roots is ever possible? and if possible, would it redefine human interactions? Saying that we will return to our roots is like saying that we start over and do not communicate and follow other's ideas so that we do not fall into the "trap" of tradition again. I do not think that is possible as humans, what do you think?
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Sara Bueno
9/28/2016 06:17:48 pm
My thoughts about the first quote is that I think it's talking about or trying to express how we should be about to pick our own laws and we should decided the society we want to live in and that people shouldn't telll us what's wrong and right with our lives and what we should and shouldn't do with the way we live.
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Bella
9/28/2016 06:25:04 pm
Quote 4- Emerson believes that God lives within nature, and does not take the form of a living higher being. Because of that, when Emerson stresses individuality and such, he means being true to God. Emerson believed that every person had a bit of God in them, therefore meaning that being yourself was an act of being true to God. Everyone is special in their own way, Emerson believes.
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Julia Schneider
10/30/2016 04:50:21 pm
In quote 2, "Nature", Emerson says how the he is a part of God, and so is everyone. He says how god is inside everyone and is in every aspect of our lives. He believes that God has planted the seeds for our lives, but he is not in control of how we choose to live it. Emerson thinks that we have to decide our own paths and make our own choices; God will not tell how to grow, he only plants our seeds and watches us grow.
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