New England preacher, poet, teacher, one of the most famous writers and philosophers of the 19th century - Ralph Waldo Emerson. He introduced a huge number of readers to a new and interesting philosophy, completely reversing their usual judgments.
He created followers and talented authors, giving them food for thought, formed a philosophy of transcendentalism - all of the above could be done by one person - Ralph Emerson.
Biography
The author was born in the United States in a large family. Among 8 children, Ralph Emerson was born 4. Father was a pastor in a church in Boston. This profession was chosen by many men on the father's side. Therefore, I would like to note that he inherited his future activities and love for literature from his father, who was also always interested in self-development and training.
At the age of 14, Ralph becomes a student at Harvard College. And already at 18 he will finish it and begin to teach at the school for girls, the founder of which was his uncle.
In 1826, Emerson became a pastor, but soon he will be disappointed in the post. And the impetus will be the moment when his wife Ellen Tucker in 1831 will be carried away by tuberculosis. It was this event that made Emerson abandon the post of priest, he was heartbroken, and his faith, which he had doubted before, had completely collapsed, he saw his philosophy in everything that was happening.
Travels
So from 1833 he began to earn a living, traveling around the country and continents and giving lectures, and by 1850 he became famous all over the world, managed to visit France, Canada, England, California. There he meets many prominent personalities, such as Thomas Carlyle, Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth.
Ralph himself decides to settle in Concord (Massachusetts) in 1834, and next year he will marry Lydia Jackson a second time. Later, in the 40s, she will give him four children: two boys and two girls. A year later, Emerson Ralph publishes his debut book, Nature, in which he expressed the philosophy of transcendentalism, becoming the founder of the idea in his country. The book was published in a circulation of only five hundred copies, but they were sold for more than five years. Although this first work, perhaps, can be considered the most beautiful. The author tells of many things that a person does not notice, saying that even dew drops are a microcosm of the universe. You need to believe in yourself and listen to the inner world. His mentor in the philosophy of transcendentalism was Thomas Carlyle. And the writing of the book was inspired by Eastern and German philosophy.
At Concord, he meets many writers who support his ideas, such as Margaret Fuller, Henry David Thoreau and Amos Bronson Alcott.
American transcendentalism
His lectures, which Emerson Ralph conducted in the 30s, he will publish in the form of an essay. In all these essays, his philosophy will be demonstrated, the experience that he adopted and composed himself, and all this was embodied in a whole philosophy and many ideas. And later in lectures, he encouraged authors to find their own style, and not imitate someone, and in particular foreign masters.
The philosopher became the most important, central figure, he was at the origins of American transcendentalism, Emerson Ralph taught that you need to trust only yourself and your nature. And God and nature should be perceived through inspiration. His writings say that God is not something far and unknown, but he is near, in each of us. You can understand God by looking into your own soul and feeling the connection with nature. His philosophy at that time crossed all conventional wisdom.
Creation
Basically, Emerson Ralph described social equality in books , that before God all people are equal, everyone can and must improve, there must be intimacy and unity of the individual with nature, a person must be cleansed of base interests and strive for the best.
Although his general idea was somewhat utopian, ideally, the author spoke about living in harmony alone with himself and nature. Intuition is the only way to understand yourself. That is what Ralph Emerson claimed.
He did not stop publishing books. One of them is Essays (1844). Or such successful collections published in the 50s: “Representatives of Humanity” (1850), “Features of English Life” (1856). "Moral Philosophy" (1860) - a collection of two parts.
Poems and Quotes
In the period from 1846 to 1867 several editions of poetry verses were published. The poems "Brahma", "Days", "Blizzard" and "Concord Anthem" have become a real classic of American literature. In his works, the author touched on themes and images customary for him, but many consider Ralph Emerson's verses to be too harsh and rude.
"If a person seeks beauty not because faith and love require it, but for the sake of pleasure, he is degrading as a person."
The author of the dictum is Ralph Emerson. The quotes that have reached the modern reader are still interesting and relevant. In them, he touches on many topics of interest to the philosopher, so it is difficult to overestimate his contribution.
Late work and life
In his later works, Emerson ceased to be so categorical. In the 60s, he began to pay attention to problems in society, for example, he advocated the abolition of slavery in the United States and still continued to travel throughout the country with lectures. He voted for Abraham Lincoln, but afterwards was dissatisfied with his actions, since he was too slow in fulfilling promises and abolishing slavery.
In the 70s, his health deteriorated significantly, but despite this, he continued to write works, trying to change the world. Although he did not have enough strength to give lectures.
Ralph Waldo Emerson died on April 27, 1887 and remained faithful to his ideas and ideals until the end of his life. His works have significant weight in the foundation of American literature, religion and philosophy of the 19th century.
Followers
His ideas had a strong influence on the work of many literary figures. Especially on his protege Henry David Thoreau, as well as on his contemporary Walt Whitman.
The philosophical course of pragmatism is very close to his views, and it is based on similar ideas. And such authors as Emily Dickinson, Robinson and Frost were inspired by the work of the philosopher, which clearly significantly influenced their work.
He had many fans in Europe, especially in Germany. The notorious F. Nietzsche was inspired by his ideas, which later appeared in his works. But in France, he could not win similar success, but it is known that some significant personalities in history were interested in his work and work.
In Russia, translations of his works came out before the revolution and also had many admirers. In particular, its influence can be traced in the work of Leo Tolstoy.
Although there were both supporters and those who left negative reviews, such persons as Edgar Poe and Nathaniel Gorton. But I would like to note that the latter said that he does not accept the views of Emerson, but he sympathizes with him as individuals.