Emerson Discussion

Topic 1: Nature

-          “Nature itself draws us from dependence upon the past and invites us to a richer state of being. In nature we are restored to “reason and faith,” freed from “all mean egotism,”

-          What do you think Emerson is saying about nature?

In a world dependent on technology, Emerson wants us to return to more primitive ways. If we are capable of achieving balance with nature, we can be free and return to our uncorrupted self.

-          Connects with the bug in the table from Thoreau

-          What aspect of nature does Emerson see as uncorrupt?

-          “great secrets of nature and of our own human nature are one, and that we have in us a capacity for being and for growth of which we have scarcely dreamed.” 

-          Why does Emerson specifically emphasize the nature in humans?

Humans have always been connected with nature and as time passed, we slowly lost the bond with nature. Emerson implies that we have unlimited potential for greatness limited by our disconnection with nature. Also, the fact that God is in nature allows us to grow closer to God through this unconventional method.

Topic 2: Soul

-          “Soul is related to our intellectual perceptions, to our moral natures as individuals,… sense of ourselves as organic beings who are at this moment alive in the world”

-          “When the soul is aroused, we perceive and evaluate life in a new way, but most especially we feel our existence with a new keenness.”

-          In the example Emerson states how he feels a perfect exhilaration, what aspect of the soul do you think Emerson believes causes this?

-          We use our soul to find one's individual hidden nature and to find our own perception of the world. 

-          “the chief obstacles to change are personal comfort and the safety of traditional beliefs”

-          In our time we fall deep into habits and a comfort zone that we can not leave. We are afraid to leave behind traditional beliefs in search of better ones.

-          Emerson believes we should follow our souls instead, what types of tradition or comfort zones have you fallen into?

Relation to Now:

-          In school and at home, we do not realize how much nature encompasses us. All the trees planted at school and a front/backyard in every home. In the silicon valley everything has become so technological, we completely forget about the nature surrounding us. It takes a real in-nature experience before we realize “WOW” there must be a special purpose for such beauty.

-          Technology has completely taken over a majority of our lives. Just the idea of not having our internet, phones, or electricity worries our nation. If we could let all of that go and find a new vision of the world we set ourselves free from the oppression of technology.