Customer Reviews

Emerson on Transcendentalism (Milestones Of Thought)

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This book is amazing. Emerson has been noted as being the greatest American thinker of his time and it is no doubt as to why this is so. He has a wonderful mind and his words and ideas just flow so eloquently in his works. Emerson's philosophy has been "Do not seek answers outside yourself." It is all found within. The soul is one of the only absolute truths existing in this world. Emerson's belief in Transcendentalism further entertains ideas such as these. It's a wonderful book and it is exactly what our superficial world needs in order to put higher thinking and intuition above material desires.

Surprisingly enjoyable and relevant. The book consists of one essay - Nature, and three speeches by Emerson between 1830 and 1845. The first, Nature, discusses the need for us to look to nature for answers, and that there is no question posed to the mind of man that cannot be answered through nature. The second is a speech made to students on the American Scholar, where Emerson implores us to eschew the books execpt for inspiration, learn from doing and direct observation, and stop looking to Europe for answers. The third is a commencement address to Harvard Divinity School where Emerson lays the groundwork for a more free and rational religious thought, challenging the reader on both faith and belief. Finally, the last is a speech on The Trancandentalist, where he outlines the traits of the transcendentalist philosopher.

Emerson is a true American philosopher in evers sense, and these 4 works ring as true today as they did 150 years ago. Ironically, Emerson would probably blanche at the thought that someone would be reading his works 150 years later and writing about them rather than being inspired to action and observation in a natural setting...

Length:: 1:59 Mins