Ralph Waldo Emerson for the Win!

9/21/2016

We've recently introduced one of America's most popular nonfiction writers, the brilliant "sage of Concord" and tireless champion of the individual, essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. Emerson's vast influence makes him a crucial reference point for this year.

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~
In this quote Emerson describes how standing in nature he doesn't feel like a single organism, but instead everything around him like the leaves and trees. A transparent eye meaning that everything is going through him and he feels being these objects and not one human body. The "Universal Spirit" extending from his transcendentalist theology about how everything on Earth and in the universe is god and he's not this supreme being.
Nature is his spirit world almost where he believes he can feel like god and be surrounded by god at the same time. That not only makes him feel at peace, but also can understand how and why the world works the way it does. I feel in any way of thinking a person is just trying to understand a concept or a situation. For Emerson, he was explaining why nature felt so pure and untouched.

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.

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?

9/25/2016 04:04:26 pm

~Quote 3~
In this quote, Emerson is talking about nonconformity and how important individuality is. Emerson says how creators are those who do not conform into society. Those who just integrate into society will just stay with tradition and they will not stand for change. He urges people to not just look at the goodness that is outside conformity— but explore it and become goodness. Emerson speaks how important it is to be true yourself and be an original. This really speaks to Emerson because he was outside conformity and dared to be as original as possible. He came up with a new philosophy called transcendentalism. This philosophy was seen as very strange and new. No one had ever thought of it before which is what made him a nonconformist.

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.

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.

9/26/2016 07:15:05 am

~Quote 5~
In this quote Emerson is saying that if you believe Fate is all then Man has freedom. He tells us that if Man has a conscience then he can think therefore he is truly free. He tells us that there are two parts of the world; the spiritual and the elemental. This is talking about the physical properties of the world are elemental while the way we feel, think, and believe is the spiritual. He speaks about how Man is free as long as he can think and nothing can change that.

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."

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.

9/26/2016 08:24:33 am

~Quote 2~
In Emerson's quote from "Nature", he is saying that God is everywhere. Since he is a Pantheist, he believes that god is in every aspect of our lives. In "Nature" Emerson is expressing that God is in us and that our bodies are just "transparent eyeballs'. Emerson believed that God was spiritually inside of everyone.

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

9/26/2016 09:16:22 am

~Quote 3~
Im Emersons quote from "Self-Reliance" he is explaining that society doesn't endorse or even allow individualism. Society as a whole wants everyone to be one way and think the same things. It does not allow for people to break traditions and step outside the box that is normality. He is stressing that if we wish to break the glass box that society holds us in, then we must not follow the path that is forced on to us. "The virtue in most request is conformity. (Society) loves no realities and creators, but names and customs." This quote means that society doesn't care for originality, it cares for uniformity.

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.

Colleen Dougan

9/26/2016 09:20:45 am

~Quote 5~
In this quote, Emerson discusses the differences in the roles of Fate and Free-will on life. He is trying to elude to his readers that it takes both of those things to influence lives. He talks about the idea that there are two parts to the world, which are the spiritual and the physical. What he means by this is that there are things that we can effect, but other things that fate has to step in to influence. Emerson says that by having free-will and fate, you will have freedom.

Sinead Henderson

9/26/2016 10:16:42 am

Quote 4
In this quote Emerson is saying that we have to trust our selves even if it's in a spontaneous moment to go with our instincts. He is trying to convince us that we can find truth in anything that we decide, and if we follow that a perfect faith is due.

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.

Summer Smith

9/26/2016 11:17:25 am

Quote 3
In this quote Emerson stresses the importance of individuality. He implies that society as a whole lives through and lives off of traditions, but those traditions need to change; and people can't change when they are following tradition. Emerson describes how people need to stand out and not be like everyone else. He believes that there needs to be individualism in the world, and people need to be individual.

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.

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.

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.

9/26/2016 11:35:15 am

Quote 3
Emerson explains how as a society, people tend to follow laws and rules strictly. Society maintains the rules from generations ago, despite the need of creating new ones as the times change. When society fails to change its rules to work hand in hand with the change of time, Emerson stresses, creativity and goodness is lost. No one will accept another person who breaks society's strict rules; those people who act differently than expected, will be judged. As a result, no one will be able to live in the present, for they will be living under the restrictions of the past. Therefore, Emerson urges people 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 themselves.

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?

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.

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.

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."

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.

9/26/2016 05:38:10 pm

Mr. Biggs's question:
I believe that Emerson was a little right about the fact of his friend going a little too far. For example, my idea of leaving the past is to stop certain traditions, shy away from culture, and maybe create your own. Emerson's friend goes far beyond that by completely leaving society in general. I think that this was much more than just to stop following the past. I think he should have just broadened his mind because if he stays in society he may hear others beliefs instead of sticking to his beliefs. These beliefs may have changed Henry's ideas instead of sticking to only his thoughts. I think that even though Henry went far, it would be better than not going far enough because he would have regretted his actions more if he didn't go far.

Marc Brewer

9/26/2016 05:41:57 pm

Quote 1
In this Quote from the essay "Nature" Ralph Emerson is trying to convey the importance of individuality, to stand out from those who came before. Breaking tradition in order to create your own destiny. Just Like all are entitled to their own interpretation of religion, Emerson wants us to make our own connection to God like his Transcendentalism. People believed he was insane but gained the trust and admiration over time as people broke from tradition and agreed with him.

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. :)

9/26/2016 06:03:33 pm

Quote 2-
The quote from Emerson’s book “Nature” explains how when someone is surrounded by no human being, there is no one who is sharing their ideas or talking about themselves. That person becomes a ‘transparent’ eyeball and has nothing blocking his/her way from changing their thoughts. Emerson is a Pantheist and believes that God is in everything, even himself.

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.

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.

kayleigh Murray

9/26/2016 06:11:56 pm

~Quote 5~
In this quote Emerson describes to us two different ways of thinking about the world. He introduces the two sides as elemental and spiritual. The elemental world is the physical things in the world around us and the spiritual is the way we think about things. The spiritual life is free because you can think whatever you want when you want. The elemental life is not so free because it can’t think or act to anything.

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.

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?

Harrison Jones

9/26/2016 06:29:46 pm

~Quote 3~

In this quote from 'Self-Reliance' Emerson details how society, who acts out as a business, takes people and conforms them to their rules. And by surrendering their freedom and values, convinces them of their ideology. He also says how society wants it's 'members' to conform to them without bringing in new ideas or ways of life, but wants them to have a definition of themselves, and for them to follow the regular practices and normal activities for that society. Emerson doesn't want people to be afraid or hurt of things labeled as good or different and to avoid them due to the rules of society; and if something appeals to you and truly brings happiness to you, or you see it as goodness without others telling you it is, that you should dwell in it and not fear it.

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?

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
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson explains how people should use their instinct or as said in the quote "primal wisdom" to solve problems. They should put their faith in their spontaneity because they know what they believe in, no matter what situation their in. Even if its an on the spot decision or a decision they have time to think about, use your instinct to solve the situation.

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.

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?

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

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.

Erin Rooy

9/26/2016 08:37:06 pm

~Quote 4~
This quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson talks about intuition and self-reliance. In the beginning, when it talks about how hearts beat to the Iron String, that just means that the heart knows best. The feeling inside a heart is most likely the way the person should go. Emerson was trying to explain how the main idea of smarts or even of life itself is based off of intuition, not so much off of religion or formal education. A common saying is "go with your gut feeling". That is basically what Emerson is saying. At the end of this quote, Emerson says that if everyone follows their intuition, perspectives and perceptions will change because instead of being so heavily based off of ideas and facts made so long ago, people will be connected and based in the present.

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.

9/27/2016 08:19:09 am

This was quote 5.

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~
This quote deals with the idea of fate. Emerson said that if you believe in fate then part of fate is man's free will. Because one side of a person's life is elemental and physical with the way they live, it is very hard to take this away from them because. The other side of a person's life is the side that is thought. You cannot take this away ever because it is all inside someone's head. So the idea of fate has to do with freedom because it is fate that you can make your own choices and decide what you want to do.

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.

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?

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
emerson uses his own experience to show readers that maybe god is not just one being, but maybe he/she is all around us, and in everything on Earth. Emerson feels god in himself, and encourages others to believe that too. Because he sees the world this way, he tends to treasure nature and people more, and "sees all." He believes in a Universal Being, and sees and treats himself and nature as a small part of God.

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".

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.

9/27/2016 01:26:54 pm

~Quote 3~

The absolute bane of any democracy is that the majority controls how you live and so therefore society is programmed against you. It is only through individual liberty we can restore balance In the words of Ben Franklin “Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Emerson tells us that individual liberty is sacrificed by society in order to ensure that each member of the society is taken care of. Emerson describes the classic tradeoff of freedom and security, and that society has no actual morals, so the actions of society may not be inherently good. The individual must determine what is good and explore the goodness for the sake of humanity.

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.

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:
1. How exactly does society control us when there is no thinking thing called "society," just other people? How does this work?
2. What is the best way to approach the question of "what is good" is we are not going to base it off social morals?

9/28/2016 05:29:01 pm

In response to your questions Mr. Biggs:

1) Society is the mean of all human cooperation. However, much like a compromise, none of the parties engaged are 100% satisfied. Society is simply us compromising all our beliefs in order to achieve a sense of belonging, but because society (i.e. what people agree upon as the moral standard) inflicts itself on you, you can never discover your true identity. The will of the people is stronger than any one person, and that is how society is able to control us- because we informally agree to accept its rules in order to be accepted and to continue our bloodlines.

2) What is good is up to us. There must be a common thread of moral code within all mankind, and Emerson calls us to seek it out. Depending on the society one belongs to, you may or may not be able to live within the base moral codes. Society is not a bad thing, not evil, it simply is. Honestly there may be no way to determine what is truly good until society and civilization dissolves and we are cast into the wilderness as animals again. The laws of Nature will be more significant than those of Man. Maybe the common threads of goodness exist within Nature. Maybe in order to find the common ground, we should look at animals- Elephants, Dolphins, Wolves, Deer. It's just a thought, but possibly by studying the behavior of wild animals we can determine what is truly "human nature" and what is a farce thrust upon us by society. Who knows, I'm just spit balling.

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.

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.

9/27/2016 02:45:37 pm

Quotela 5

In this quote, I think that Emerson is trying to convey to his readers how a person can do whatever the want. There are no restrictions as to what they can and can't pursue. But that being said, their fate may not be predetermined, but their actions in life will impact them most, compared to any other ideas for example, predestination. Ultimately, Emerson is stating that the human soul is free, and never bound to predestined fate.

Lauren Marcolus

9/27/2016 02:55:21 pm

—Quote 4--
In this quote, Emerson communicates the importance of staying true to oneself. In comparing the heart to a tuning fork vibrating to "that Iron string," he indicates that every man's soul understands the truth and importance of the message of self-reliance. The purest and truest form of intelligence is our instinct and intuition, given to us by God. In trusting ourselves we communicate the Godly spirit within us. This quote supports Emerson's common theme of individuality and his idea of humans as "transparent eyeballs."

Desiree Marshall

9/27/2016 03:20:07 pm

Quote 3

I think what Emerson means in this quote, is that we shouldn't let what Society deems good affect our judgement. Emerson wants us to figure out the goodness of things on our own. In other words, he doesn't want us to conform to standards blindly, he wants us to get out there and do the researching and thinking for ourselves. Only after we've done that, can we decide what's right for us. We shouldn't have to surrender our liberty and our culture for Society. I believe that's the message Emerson was trying to get across.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Amira Ibrahim

9/27/2016 04:15:49 pm

Quote 3

Emerson's quote from " Self Reliance" expresses Emerson's belief that we should not conform to society's beliefs. In other words Emerson's believes that we should have our own thought and beliefs. Emerson thinks we should be like Clarice in Fahrenheit 451 and think about what else we can do, what we want to do and think unlike others, instead of being like Mildred and agreeing with what society and what others say. Emerson also wants us to find great things, go on big adventures see the amazing things with our own eyes not what other people say or just stay in a box, according to Emerson we got to get out of the box and find a chest or treasure box that no one has ever seen before. Only then, after researching and breaking out of the confines of society can we decide what we want or do or be.

9/27/2016 04:31:58 pm

Quote 2:
In this quote from "Nature" Emerson talks of being one with nature and straying away from his normal self. He is a "transparent eyeball" or in other words just simply nothing. When surrounded by nature Emerson believes is is closer with god which is all around him in trees, grass, leaves and even in himself. This quote in a way is explaining his ways of pantheism and transcendentalism which are about going beyond tradition and being spiritually connected with nature.

Jacob Swartz

9/27/2016 04:39:36 pm

Quote 5-
While I was reading this quote for the first time, the beginning didn't make much sense to me. However reading it over once more I realized that the speaker compares man's Fate to a lightning bolt. A lightning bolt can be thought to be randomly occurring, just like how man can have a fate that is randomly occurring. Then the speaker goes on saying that "a part of fate is the freedom of man/So far as a man thinks he is free." he means that 'man' has control of his fate because of his freedom, as long as he(man) believes in his freedom .

9/27/2016 05:11:00 pm

Quote 5:
Emerson brings up an interesting premise in this quote. He believes everything that we experience is not original and our thoughts on objects and nature is dictated by our ancestors. All of the poetry, philosophy, and religion is based on the traditions of older rather than us discovering them on our own. I think even today not a lot of people live the way they want to, but the way their family makes them by introducing them to certain beliefs. We should not follow what our ancestors think but explore and try new methods of law, religions, and ways of life.

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.

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
I believe that this quote is exploring the idea of how the generations prior to us have established their own history, art and insight, and how we, as a generation, have just been looking at things through their eyes. He demands that people see the "wool and flax in the fields" and create our own traditions and history along with it. I think the wool and flax symbolize the opportunity for growth and that Emerson is insisting we see the things right in front of us and take advantage of them instead of analyzing the generations before us. By doing this, we are jeopardizing our own futures and neglecting to truly live in the moment.

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.

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?

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.

9/27/2016 06:32:33 pm

~quote 3~
In this quote Emerson is saying that society is a corporation, where all its members agree. For all its members to agree on everything emerson thinks that the members are giving up their liberty. Also, Emerson believes that they are giving up their culture and then following what everyone believes. Because of this society follows the same rules and never changes them. If society never changes or everyone follows one idea we will never explore what life has to offer. Emerson does not want people to conform to society, he wants them to explore and find their own ideas. Overall, Emerson sees that societies rules are holding people back from developing their own ideas.

Seamus Fields

9/27/2016 07:04:30 pm

~Quote 5~

When Emerson says "Thought, the spirit which composes and decomposes nature. (We) cannot deny (human) free will", he is saying that humans are free to do as they please. The human soul can be as free as its mind and body choose to be. But he then says "fate is the freedom of Man", which implies that man is only free because that is what fate chose for that specific person. Man is only as free as s/he believes to be.

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).

Sophia Morales

9/27/2016 07:23:43 pm

Quote 2
Emerson believes that God is everywhere and in everything. This means that a piece of God is in even the most basic things like a puddle on the ground. God is in all aspects of nature and a piece of him is something that everything is made and born with.

9/27/2016 07:37:51 pm

Quote Number 2
In this quote Emerson compares himself to nature and the way of the world. He begins to write about his experience and his revelation into transcendentalism. His floating eyeball represents God as it is around and apart of everything. When he becomes this eyeball he lets go of his physical form and civilization. Instead of following rules of biology or morality or anything else, he melds into his surroundings. He becomes one with nature and experiences life as an ever flowing apparatus from God to us, through us.

John Tuohy

9/27/2016 07:51:37 pm

~Quote 3~

In this Quote, Emerson is exploring how society restricts many creative tendencies and in place imposes conformity. This way society represses expression and individuality, and instead makes everyone think/act the same way to fit the current "standards"; allowing little to no expansive thought. Ralph even compares the way society functions to a big corporation, where people agree to give up their creativity and differences for everyone to have the same exact share of the company. The price being a fundamental part of what makes you a unique human being makes this deal seem pretty bleak. But time and time again, many persons make this deal and give up an integral part of their selves. Here Emerson combats that and says that we shouldn't let society repress our creativity. Instead he urges that we push these restraints off and explore these feelings, instead of letting the greedy corporation consume our lives in mundane conformity.

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.

Robbie Demarco

9/27/2016 08:01:05 pm

-Quote 4-
Emerson is saying in this quote that life thrives on being spontaneous and passionate. Without doing what is felt we don't challenge ourselves intelligence. Everything that is learned about faith and being spontaneous can not be taught, but by watching around us and watching the intelligence of all people. The purpose of this quote is that by seeing the world and how things react, then we can only grow.

9/27/2016 08:10:28 pm

Quote Number 5
"Fate": Freedom
I think that in the first sentence he is saying how each person has power within themselves and that each person has intelligence. The next sentence talks about how this intelligence and power is split into order and free thought which questions nature. The third sentence is saying how no one can deny free-will and free-thought, and humans will always be able to make decisions. The next sentence says that fate is based on the decisions people make. The it concludes with the statement that thought takes fate out of the picture, and it states that as long as a person lives and makes his/her own decisions, they will be free and will not live by fate. Overall, I think Emerson is saying that humans are not controlled by fate as long as they are able to make their own decisions.

Ethan Bennett

9/28/2016 04:22:53 am

Quote 1:
I believe that in this quote, Emerson is saying that we should return to our roots, as ancient philosophers would often write about us, mankind as a whole, as being small gears in the gigantic mechanical being that is the universe. Truthfully, humans are like a single, microscopic spec in the grand scheme of things. Humans as a whole have grown a sense of entitlement, and Emerson addresses this in this quote.

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?

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.

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.

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.

English and Philosophy

Mr. Biggs @ RBR