劉晨曉的論文

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本科畢業(yè)論文題目:簡析愛默生和他的超驗主義學(xué)院：外國語學(xué)院專業(yè)班級：英語0601班學(xué)號：2006344010122學(xué)生姓名：劉晨曉指導(dǎo)教師姓名：姜志芳指導(dǎo)教師職稱：講師二O—O年六月十五日 ABriefStudyonEmersonandHisTranscendentalismAGraduationThesisSubmittedbyLiuChenxiaoInPartialFulfillmentoftheRequirementsForTheDegreeofBachelorofArtsIntheSubjectofEnglishLanguageandLiteratureToCollegeofForeignLanguagesOfAgriculturalUniversityofHebeiSupervisor:JiangZhifangMay20,2010CandidateSupervisor TableofContentsAcknowledgements摘要iiAbstractii1.Introduction12.TheFormationofEmerson'sTranscendentalism22.1HistoricalBackground22.1.1SocialCondition22.1.2Emerson9sOwnCondition22.2OriginandDevelopment32.2.1TheOriginoftheTheory32.2.2Development63?TheCoreNotionsofEmerson^Thought83.2TheImportantCoreNotion一Over-Soul83.3TheImportantCoreNotion一Self-Reliance94?ABriefAnalysisonNature11TheSignificanceoftheBook11ABriefExplanationofNature115.Conclusion15Bibliography16 AcknowledgementsThisthesisisaboutEmersonandhisTranscendentalism.ItiswithgreatpleasurethatIgratefullyacknowledgethemanybenefitsIhaveenjoyedinthiskindofstudy.Iwouldliketotaketheopportunitytoexpressmyheartfeltgratitudetoallthosewhohavehelpedmeinonewayoranotherinthecompletionofthisthesis.Firstandforemost,Iwouldliketogivemysincerethankstomysupervisor,MsJiangZhifang,forherinstruction,encouragementandkindness.IthankherforhercarefulcorrectionofmythesisandheradvicewhichhashelpedmecompletemystudyofEmerson.Moreover,IamgratefultoalltheprofessorswhopresentedtheirwonderfullecturesfromwhichIhavebenefitedalot.Specialthanksshouldextendtomycolleagues,withouttheirhelp,thecompletionofthepaperwouldbeimpossible.Finally,Iwishtoexpressmyappreciationtoallmyclassmatesandfriends,andmyfamilymembers,fortheirsupportandencouragement.Iamindebtedtothemfortheirhelp?LiuChenxiaoMay20,2010 【摘要】拉爾夫?沃爾多?愛默生是美國偉大的思想家，散文家和詩人。他是美國十九世紀(jì)中葉超驗主義運動的杰出領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。愛默生集古代經(jīng)典作品的觀點于一身并形成了自己的一套哲學(xué)理論。他的超驗主義被稱之為最重要的世俗宗教，愛默生也被稱作“美國精神的先知”和“美國的孔子事實上，愛默生的哲學(xué)、宗教和文化源自不同的文化影響。歐洲浪漫主義、康德的哲學(xué)思想和理想主義以及儒家思想都對愛默生的超驗主義的形成產(chǎn)生了重大影響。愛默生的超靈思想和自立思想是其超驗主義的核心，“超靈”以自然、人和靈的關(guān)系為基礎(chǔ)，注重人與自然的和諧，旨在幫助人類領(lǐng)悟真理。“自立”注重精神，張揚個性，呼吁自助，把人推向了神的高度。他的《論自然》被認(rèn)為是超驗主義的圣經(jīng)，這本書給美國人思想開辟了一個新的境地，使美國思想從歐洲桎梏下解放出來。本論文旨在對愛默生的超驗主義核心思想和其著作《論自然》作基礎(chǔ)研究，以便更好的理解其超驗思想?！娟P(guān)鍵詞】愛默生；超驗主義；超靈；自立[Abstract]RalphWaldoEmersonwasagreatthinker,essayistandpoetinthemid-19thcenturyandanoutstandingleaderofthetranscendentalmovement.Emersonwasgreattoconfluenceideasofclassicsworksandfonnedhisownphilosophy.Histranscendentalismwascalledasthemostimportantmundanereligionandhewasregardedas"theprophetofAmericanconsciousness*'and"ConfuciusintheUnitedStates"?Actuallyhisphilosophy,hisreligiousandculturalthoughtsweredevelopedfromdifferentsources,forhistranscendentalismisdeeplyinfluencedbyEuropeanRomanticism,Kant'sthoughtsofphilosophyandidealismandtheConfucianism,thesethoughtshelpEmersonalotinforminghistheory."Over-Sour9and"Self-Reliance"arcthecorenotionsofhisthinking."Over-SouFbasedontherelationshipofnature,humanandspirit,anditlaidstressontheharmonyofhumanandnature,soastohelphumancomprehendingthetruth."Self-Reliance"paidattentiontothespirit,personalcharacter,callingonSelf-Reliance,anditpushedthehumantotheheightofGod?HisfirstbookNaturewasregardedastheBibleofNewEnglandTranscendentalism,anditopenedupanewrealmtotheAmerican,anditalsoliberatedtheAmericanliteraturefromtheshacklesofEuropean.ThisthesisaimstomakeageneralelementarystudyonEmersoncorenotionsoftranscendentalism?【KeyWords]Emerson;Transcendentalism;over-soul;self-reliance IntroductionWellknownasanessayist,aphilosopher,asage,aseer,apoetorapoliticalreformerintheAmericanliteraryhistory,RalphWaldoEmersonwasarepresentativeoftheAmericanRomanticisminthemid-19thcenturyandanoutstandingleaderofthetranscendentalmovement.Histheoriesanddoctrineshavefar-reachinginfluenceonthebirthofAmericanliterature;healsoplayedanimportantroleinestablishingtheindependentAmericancultureandevenintheformationofthenationalcharactersofAmerica?ThispaperdiscussestheformationandthedevelopmentofEmerson，sthought,statesthecorenotionsinhisthoughtandhasabriefstudyonhisNature.ThesystemofEmerson^sthoughtsisnumerousandmultifarious,anditisalittlehardtocomprehendeveryaspectofhistheory.ManyresearchershaveconductedilluminatingandinsightfulresearchesintoEmersonfromavarietyofangleofvision.Amongthepioneeringstudies,mostofthempaidmuchattentiontoEmerson^contributionstoAmericanTranscendentalphilosophyandhisinfluenceonAmericanliteratureandfromtheaspectofhisuniqueviewonnatureandenvironment.Inthisthesis,Emerson，sideaoftranscendentalismTranscendentalism:AphilosophicandliterarymovementthatflourishedinNewEngland,fromabout1836-I860、asareactionagainst18lhcenturyrationalism,andtheorthodoxyofNewEnglandCalvinism.Thisbeliefemphasisonspiritorover-soulstressestheimportanceofindividualandoffersnatureasthesymboloftheSpiritorGod?intheNatureisconsideredasabigpartinhisthoughtsystematthebeginningofthe19thcentury.ThesignificanceofthisthesisliesinthemicrocosmicpointofviewtostudyEmerson^sthoughts,inordertoletushaveabetterunderstandingofEmerson,andhistranscendentalism.Therearefivepartsinthispaper.Chapter1isthegeneralintroductionofEmersonandtheaimsaswellasthesignificanceofthisthesis.Chapter2showstheformationanddevelopmentofEmerson^sthought;itwillconsiderthehistoricalbackground,theoriginanddevelopmentofEmerson9stheory,andtriestofindtheinternalandexternalfactors?Chapter3statesthecorenotionsofEmerson^transcendentalism.ItalsodiscussesthemostimportantfeaturesinEmerson'sphilosophy,religious,andculturalthoughtsuchas"Ove—Sou廠and“Self-Reliance：Chapter4discussesthespiritofTranscendentalismintheNature.Emersonbelieveseverythinghadtheirsoulandalsonatureisthesymbolofspirit?Emersongraduallyformedadoubleviewontranscendentalismofnatureinbothmaterialandspiritualdimensions.Chapter5istheconclusion ofthispape匚 TheFormationofEmerson'sTranscendentalismTheformationandthedevelopmentofEmerson^thoughtarerelatedtothehistoryofhistimeandalsorelatedtothefactorsoftheworld.HistoricalBackgroundHistoricallyspeaking,anyemergenceofarepresentativefigureorofanewideaisnotaccidental.Thereareexteriorconditions,aswellasinternalfactors,anditistrueofEmerson^sthought.TheformationofEmerson?sthoughthadacloserelationshipwiththesocialconditionsandEmerson^sfamilybackground,withhiseducationandhispersonalmakings.SocialConditionAfterhalfacentury'sdevelopmentandconstruction,Americahadmademuchprogressinitspolitics,economyandcultureinthe30softhe19thcenturyespeciallyintheboomingindustrywithtrainsandchimneyseverywhereinNewEnglandthatindicatedtheprosperityofthenation，seconomy.Asanewlybornnation,Americanotonlyneededpolitical,economicalanddiplomaticindependencebutalsoneededcorrespondingprosperityinnationalculture.Comparedtotheboomingindustryandeconomy,culturedevelopmentapparentlywaslaggedbehind,letaloneliteraryworksreflectingsubjectmattersofAmericanitself.Duringthisperiod,thestiffandrigiddoctrinesofCalvinismtookthedominantpositioninreligion;asforculture,thethenliteraryworksstillcouldnotcastoffthebondageofBritain一themothercountryofAmerica.Asaresult,Literatureatthattimelackedsenseofnationalismandoriginalspirit.Underthesecircumstances,thereappearedadesirenursedinsomeAmericanheart:thedesiretoenhancesenseofnationalismandsenseofnationalliterature.Againstthisbackground,Emerson”Calvinism:ItisaseriesoftheologicalbeliefsfirstpromotedbyJohnCalvin,oneoftheleadersoftheProtestantreformation.TheywerethedoctrinesofsalvationwhichcontainedintheBible,suchasTotaldepravity,Unconditionalelection,Limitedatonement,IrresistiblegraceandPerseveranceofthesaints?stranscendentalismcameintobeingandconsequentlyresultingintranscendentalmovement.ThereformofEmerson，sthoughtinreligionandphilosophygreatlypushedthenationaldevelopmentinAmericanliterature,whichbrokedeeplythroughthedepressingatmosphereinliterature.Emerson^OwnCondition SincechildhoodEmersonwasundertheedificationofUnitarianism,?whichhadagreatimpactonEmersonatleastintwoaspects:firstUnitarianismadvocatedlogos,takingsuchvirtuesasreasonandsimplicityinmateriallifeasthesocialnorms.Second,itstressedfreedominone^sfaithandallowedtheautonomyinreligion.ThetwoaspectsplayedanimportantroleintheformationofEmerson^stranscendentalism.Emerson'smother,RuthHaskinsEmerson,keptthefamilyafterherhusband^deathwhenRalphwasonlyeight.HerbeliefofstressingthepossibilityofeverydayspiritualityandtheauthenticatingfeelingsofindividualreligiousexperiencepassedontoEmerson.Besideshismother'sinfluence,hisfather'ssister,MaryMoodyEmersoncontributedgreatlytoEmerson^sintellectualstandards,hisinnergrowthandhisdevelopment.Sheexpressedherselfoneveryconceivabletopicandobligedtheboystodothesame.Shealsohadadeepfeelingforthenaturalworldandforitsconnectionwithcrucialmomentsofhumanexperience.HercharacterandthoughtandevenherwayofdoingthingsinfluencegreatlyonEmerson^scharacterandthought.Apartfromthereligiousbackground,Emersonisbookish?Hewasinterestedverymuchinhistoryandbiographies;hereadclassicsofdifferentperiodsinhumanhistoryandfromdifferentnations.Thewidereadingsenlargedhisvisionandenrichhismind.Itturnedoutthatallhispreliminarypreparationsinreadingandwritingaredestinedtoformthemakingsofhissuccesslater.Gradually,youngEmersonmaturedbothinhisthoughtandinhiswritingandbecameamanofrichthoughtandscholarofuniquesight.OriginandDevelopmentEmerson^transcendentalismisnotimaginedbyhimself,itwastheproductofacombinationofforeigninfluencesandtheAmericanPuritantradition.TheOriginoftheTheoryAsamoralphilosophy,Transcendentalismwasneitherlogicalnorsystematized.Itexaltedfeelingoverreason,individualexpressionovertherestraintsoflawandcustom.ItappealedtothosewhodisdainedtheharshGodoftheirPuritanancestorsandthosewhoscornedthepaledeityofNewEnglandUnitarianism.Unitarianism:ReligiousdoctrineofthesinglepersonalityofGod,ascontrastedwiththeTrinitarianconcept.ThenamedocsnotfullyindicatethesignificanceoftheUnitarianmovement,whichliesinitsliberalrationalismanditsoppositiontothedoctrinesofinheritedguilt,lossoffreewill,eternalpunishment,andvicariousatonement.3 TheformationofEmerson'stranscendentalismhaditsthoughtmainlyfromthreesources.Firstly,theidealisticphilosophyfromGermany,theworksofKantexertedenormousimpactonAmericanintellectuals.Secondly,UnitarianismistheimprovedtheoryoftheAmericanPuritantradition,itbelievedGodasonebeing,rejectingthedoctrineoftrinity,stressingthetoleranceofdifferenceinreligiousopinion,andgivingeachcongregationthefreecontrolofitsownaffairanditsindependentauthority.Itlaidthefoundationforthecentraldoctrinesoftranscendentalism.Thirdly,thephilosophyoftheChineseConfuciusisalsoanimportantpart.KanfsInfluenceEmersonownedhistranscendentalismtoKant^sinfluence?Kant5sidealismisamaintrackfortheformationofEmerson5stranscendentalism.ThewordtranscendentalwasnotnativetoAmerica;itwasaKantiantermdenoting,asEmersonputsit,"Whateverbelongstotheclassofintuitivethought?"Kantwasthefirsttomakeatechnicaldistinctionbetweenthetermstranscendentandtranscendental.KantreservedthetermtranscendentforthoseentitiessuchasGodandthesoul,whichwerethoughttoexistoutsideofhumanexperienceandwasthereforeunknowable;heusedthetermtranscendentaltosignifyaprioriformsofthought,thatis,innateprincipleswithwhichthemindgaveformtoitsperceptionsandmadeexperienceintelligible.GroundedonKant^sthoughtEmersonputforwardhisopinioninNaturethatspiritistheparamountandsupremeintheuniverse.Besideidealisticspirit,Kantandhisfollowersbroughtscientificmethodtothesubjectofmind?InKant，sopinion,people'smindwasfilledwithcreativityandoriginality,menonlypartiallytakeinknowledgeinthemeanwhiletheycreatedtheirownandKantpositivelystressedstronglymen^soriginality.EmersonwasgreatlyappealedbyKant5sopinionandhefurtherdevelopedthisideainSelf-Reliance.Emersonpointedoutthatmanshouldbebothself-reliantandselflessandthattherearegoodvirtuesineveryman,theyneedustoopenupandcultivate.AmericanPuritan^InfluenceAmericantranscendentalisminheritedcertainculturefromAmericanPuritanism.TheEdwardiannotionofinwardcommunicationofthesoulwithGodanddivinesymbolismofnatureallfindadequateexpressioninEmerson'sTranscendentalism.EmersonstatedhisideasintermsoftranscendentalidealismofOver-Soul,andinthelanguageofNature,Self-Reliance,andTheDivinitySchoolAddress.WhatEmersonandhisfellowTranscendentalistendeavoredtodowasinfactprimarilytoreassertthereligiousidealismoftheirPuritanpastandrephrasetheirthoughtsin forms.Then,wealsonoticethattheTranscendentalists9emphasisonindividualwasdirectlytraceabletothePuritanprincipleofself-cultureandself-improvementasbestexemplifiedbythesuccessstoryofAmericansfirstself-mademan,BenjaminFranklin.Virtuealone,tohim,ledtosuccess:Onehadtobeself-reliantandimproveone'spersonality.Thereexistsanevidentresemblance,betweenEmerson?s“theinfluenceoftheprivateindividual"andFranklin，sbeliefthat"theleastofmencanrise"and"amanoftolerableabilitiescanworkgreatchangesandaccomplishgreataffairsamongmankind".ThusthisisagoodreasontosaythatNewEnglandTranscendentalismwas,inactuality,RomanticismonthePuritansoil.（iii）TheThoughtsofConfuciusConfucianismisoneofthebrancheshavingshapedEmersonandhisTranscendentalism.EmersononcereadmanybooksonConfusionsuchasConfusion,TheAnalects;theFourBooks,whichhemadedozensofextractsfromtheminhisjournalandevensomeforTheDialin1843.ThethoughtsofConfuciusgiveEmersonmuchinspiration,suchasthehumanismtendency,thegoodnessofviewsandthenature.First,InConfucius'eyes,theuniverseisspontaneousandaself-productionprocess,itrepeatsincycles,growscontinually?TherelationshipofuniverseandhumanmakestheChinesethinkersalwaysconcernedaboutpeopledreallifetoexploremarfsinnerworldandtakehumanasacenter.TheConfucianthoughtsofthishumanismtendencymakesEmersonresonated,andreflectedintranscendentalism.Fortranscendentalismemphasizestheimportanceofspiritandindividualisthemostimportantelementofsociety,holdstheharmonyofhumanandnature.Second,Confuciushastwiceaffirmedtheidentityofhumannature,"Bynature,neartogether,bypracticefarapart：and“onlythewiseandthefoolofhumannatureremainedunchangeable^（王襲奮2009：121）.AstoEmerson,"allpeople'smentalconstitution,intermsoftheirimportance,issimilar”（Ibid，122）.Theybothinsistedthatthehumanisoriginallykind,andbothdonotnegatetheauthorityandsacred,butEmersonchangetheConfucius5Saintintohis,andthatiswhathebroughtfromChinatothemindofAmerican.Third,Confucianismbelievedthattheoriginoftheworldisabstract,vague,andmysterious,EmersonalsothinkthatthenatureisthenetofGodwhichisstretchedlongandunbroken,andithasnobeginningandalsonoending.Howeverithasthepowerofcycling,anditcancontinuouslycomesbacktoitself.Theybothaffirmedthecontinuityandtheentiretyofnature,everythingintheworldunitesinit,andthisentiretyisanorganismthatbeginsfromnothingandthendevelopstoaffect eachother.Sotheworldisanentireonethenatureandmanareindivisible.EmersonandtheConfucianistsallholdthatthereexistsaspiritualworldinthebankofthematerialworldtocorrespondingwithit.Ontheonehand,thenatureisthereflectionofspirit,everynaturalprocesstendedtobesymbolic;ontheotherhand,thenatureislikeamirror,itcanreflectpeople'sinnerworld,sothenatureactsasthecommunicatorofhumanandthespirit.Whenpeoplemergedintothenature,thebodyandsoul,thespiritandmaterialachievehighlyintegrated.Greatmindshavesomethingincommon.TheinfluencesofChineseConfucianismhelpEmersonalotinestablishinghistheory.DevelopmentEmersonwassonofaUnitarianminister.Thoughbornofanimpoverishedfamily,Emersonneverfailedtoreceivesomeformaleducation.WhileasastudentatHarvardhebegankeepingjournals,apracticehecontinuedthroughouthislife.Helaterdrewonthejournalformaterialsforhisessaysandpoetry.AfterHarvard,hetaughtasaschoolmaster,whichhesoongaveupforthestudyoftheology.Hebeganpreachingin1826andthreeyearslaterhebecameapastorinachurchinBoston.Emersonwasardentatfirstinhisserviceinreligion,butgraduallygrewskepticalofthebeliefsofthechurch;feelingUnitarianismintolerable,hefinallylefttheministryin1832andwenttoEuropetoseekthewayoutforhisthought.InEuropehemetandmadefriendswithColeridge,WordsworthandCarlyle,andbroughtbackwithhimtheinfluenceofEuropeanRomanticism.Withpeoplewhodissatisfiedwiththematerialistic-orientedsocietyandeagertosavethesoulwithadoctrineofthemindsuchasThoreau,BronsonAlcott,andMargaretFuller,Emersonformedaninformaldiscussinggroup,theTranscendentalClub,withsomethirtymenandwomenofBostonandConcordin1836.TheywerestronglyinfluencedbythenewGermanidealismanddelightedinabstractdiscussion.TheymetirregularlyoverthenextfouryearsatRalphWaldoEmerson'shomeinConcordforthepurposeofdiscussingthenewideasoflifeandsociety.Thisclubwasthefirstandmostfamousofaseriesofforumsthatservedduringthenextfewdecadesassocialgatheringpoints.Itbecamethemovement'smagneticcenter.From1836to1835,theyadvocatedtheirviewsandprinciplesinvariousmagazines.Besides,theyevenpublishedtheirjournal,TheDial(1840-1844)toexplaintheirideas.UnlikemanyEuropeangroupsthetranscendentalistsneverissuedamanifesto.Theyinsistedonindividualdifferencesontheuniqueviewpointofindividualandpushedradical individualismtotheextreme?Transcendentalistsoftensawthemselvesaslonelyexplorersoutsidesocietyandconvention.Forthemnothingwasagiven.Literaryandsocialconventions,farfrombeinghelpful,weredangerous.Therewastremendouspressuretodiscoveranauthenticliteraryform,contentandvoice-allatthesametime.Theirmeetingsandtheirjournalpromotedthismovementandaddedprominencetoit.Besides,transcendentalistsengagedinreformeffortsaswellasliterature.Inordertoseparatethemselvesfromtheevilsociety,theymadetwocommunitarianexperimentsbyestablishingidealcommunities.GeorgeRipley(1802?1880)setuptheBrookFarmonBoston'soutskirts,whichranfrom1841to1847withemphasisoncooperationwithoutcompetition.ThesecondexperimentisFruitlands,nearHarvard,setupbyBronsonAlcott(1799-1888)in1843.Onthisfarm,Alcottstressedtheabsoluteavoidanceofexploitationofmanandbeast.ItlastedlessthanayearbecauseitwasmoreextremeinpracticethantheBrookFarm.AlcottalsohelpedtoorganizeandpresideovertheConcordSchoolofPhilosophy(1879-1888),asummerseminar.Thiswasthelastsignificantactivityoftranscendentalism.Atlast,thistendencywasreplacedbyRealism. TheCoreNotionsofEmerson，sThoughtThecorenotionsofEmerson^sthoughtare“Over-Soul，，and“Self-Reliance",theyarethemostimportantpointsofviewinexpressinghisideas.3.1TheImportantCoreNotion一Over-SoulWhatisOver-Soul?EmersondefineditinhisessayTheOver-Soulas"thesoulofthewhole;thewisesilence;theuniversalbeautytowhicheverypartandparticleisequallyrelated;theEternalOne,,(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:262).ForEmerson,God,Over-Soul,Spirit,OneMind,theEternalOneareofthesamething,asexpressedinhisdefinitionsofOver-SoulorSpiritinNature9."SpiritistheCreator.Spirithathlifeinitself.AndmaninallagesandcountriesembodyitinhislanguageastheFather^(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:15).ItseemstousOver-Soul,ontheonehand,isabstractandunimaginable;itfilledintheuniverseandcanbeeverything.ItisnottheJehovahintheBible,itisnottheGod.Itistheveryspiritthatliesintheuniverse.However,ontheotherhand,Over-Soulalsohasformandcontent.Itissoneartousthatwecantouchitwithourhands.Everythingintheworld,includinghumanandnature,istherepresentativeofit.ItistheCreatorofallandthesourceofextraordinaryproceedsinturnofthesoulandtheworldofnature,circulatinginallthespace,embodyinganddemonstratingitselfintheobservablenature?Weshouldknowthattherelationshipofthenature,humanandGodisjustthebasictheoryofEmerson^stranscendentalism,thepithistheconceptofOver-soulwhichhementionedalo匸Emersonstillstartsfromthenatureandnaturalbeauty.Hebelievedthatalthoughdifferentpeoplehavedifferentopinionaboutthenaturalbeauty.Naturalbeauty,everybodycanexperienceitanditistherealfact.Thismeansthatbeautyexistineveryone5sheart,Inotherwords,everyone，shearthassomethingthatcanperceivenaturalbeautyThiskindofthingswhichareabstract,invisible,existsintheheartsofhuman,Emersoncalledit"Over-SouFSoasasignificantconceptofEmerson^sthoughtwhichcanevenbecalledhisreligion,“Ove「Sou「issurelyshowspietyinGod;thispietydenotesahumblestancetowardGod.Over-SoulisthethreadthatchainsallEmerson，swritings,anditalsoactsasthepillarofEmerson'sphilosophy.Fromtheabove,wecansee“Over-Soul"asoneofthemostimportantcorenotionsof Emerson^Transcendentalism,itnotonlyhasadefinitionwhichisofrichthoughts,butalsohasgreatsignificancetohistheory.Atthesametime,EmersonandotherTranscendentalistsbelievedinthetranscendenceof'4Over-SouFItisanimpersonalforcethatiseternal,moral,harmonious,andbeneficentintendency.Theybelievedthatthereshouldbeanemotionalcommunicationbetweenanindividualsoulandtheuniversal"Over-Soursincetheover-sou1isanall-pervadingpowerfromwhichallthingscomefromandofwhicheachisapart?Oneofthetendenciesofthe"Over-Souristoexpressitselfinform,hencetheworldofnatureasaninfluenceoftheworldofspirit.Emerson，sremarkableimageof“atransparenteyeball"marksaparadoxicalstateofbeing,inwhichoneismergedintonature,theOver-Soul,whileatthesametimeretainingauniqueperceptionoftheexperience?ThiskindoffeelingandbeliefisjustwhatEmersonwantedthehumantounderstandandexperience.TheImportantCoreNotion—Self-RelianceSociety，srenewalprogressesonlythroughindividualprogresscanbeachieved.Ifthehumandependsuponhimself,self-education,self-enhancementandbringoutthedivineinhimself,hecanhopetobecomebetterandevenperfect.ThisiswhatEmersonmeansby"theinfinitudeofmarT?Thereareendlesspossibilitiesforpeopletodevelopthemselvesandimprovetheirownaffairs?Everyhuman^ssoullivesinGocTssoul.InEmerson'seye,humanareshapedbytheimageofGod,buthumanarealittlelessthanGod.ThisisasmuchastosaythatthespiritualandimmanentGodisoperativeinthesoulofman,andthatmanisdivine.Theperfectman,selfeducated,self-improvement,ratherthanthepursuitofwealthistheTranscendentalistsfirstconcern.Theyhavewarnedpeopletobeontheirownspiritualperfection?IndividualshaveintersectionwiththeHolySpiritandbecomesacred.Inallhislectures,Emersonsays,hehastaughtonedoctrine,namely,“theinfinitudeoftheprivatemarT.Hehastriedtoconvincepeoplethatthepossibilitiesformantodevelophimselfareinfinite.Menshouldandcouldbeself-reliant.Eachmandetermineshisownexistence.Everyoneshouldunderstandthathemakeshimselfbymakinghisworld,andthathemakestheworldbymakinghimself."Knowingthenthattheworldexistsforyou??:hesays,"Buildthereforeyourownworld,"Trustthyself!^and"Makethyself!^（quotedin常耀信2003:61）Trustyourowndiscretion andtheworldisyours.ThisisjustEmerson'shope.Emerson，seyeswereonmanashecouldbeorcouldbecome;hewasinthemainoptimisticabouthumanperfectibility.Theregenerationoftheindividualleadstotheregenerationofsociety.Hencehisfamousremark,“Iaskfortheindividuals,notthenotiorT（Ibid，62）?Emerson'sTranscendentalism,withitsemphasisondemocraticindividualism,mayhaveprovidedanidealexplanationfortheconductandactivitiesofanexpandingcapitalistsociety.ItwasareactionagainsttheCalvinistconceptthatmanistotaldepravity,sinhasextendedtoallpartsofeveryperson，sbeing:histhinking,hisemotionandwill,andcannothopetobesavedexceptthroughthegraceofGod.Itwasalsoareactionagainsttheprocessofdehumanizationthatcameinthewakeofdevelopingcapitalism.TheindustrializationofNewEnglandwasturningmenintononhuman>Peoplewerelosingtheirindividualityandwerebecominguniform.Thetranscendentalistssawtheprocessinprogressand,bytryingtoreasserttheimportanceoftheindividual,emphasizedthesignificanceofmenregainingtheirlostpersonality.TheTranscendentalistsareclearthatonlybyreiteratingtheimportanceoftheindividualpersonality;peoplecanregainhopetore-alive. ABriefAnalysisonNatureNature,isthefirstbookwhichcontainsthethoughtofEmerson.Sothebookisofgreatimportancetohimandhistranscendentalism.TheSignificanceoftheBookIn1836,alittlebookentitledNaturebyRalphWaldoEmersoncameoutwhichmadeatremendousimpactontheintellectuallifeofAmerica?TheNewWorldwasthrilledtohearthenewvoiceituttered."TheUniverseiscomposedofNatureandtheSoulJitsays,"Spiritpresenteverywhere/'Awholenewwayofthinkingbegantoexertitsinfluenceontheconsciousnessofman?Nature'svoicepushedAmericanRomanticismintoanewphaseofNewEnglandTranscendentalism,thesummitofAmericanRomanticism?Nature,regardastheBibleofNewEnglandTranscendentalism,isalyricalexpressionoftheharmonyEmersonfeltbetweenhimselfandnature.Emersondefinesnatureasanall-encompassingdivineentityinherentlyknowntousinourunfetteredinnocence,ratherthanasmerelyacomponentofaworldruledbyadivine,separatebeinglearnedbyusthroughpassedteachingsinourexperience?Naturesetbeyondtheculminationofideas,publishedanonymouslyin1836,theessaycontainsanintroductionandeightbriefchapters,whichdiscussedtheloveofnature,theusesofnature,theidealistphilosophyinrelationtonature,evidencesofspiritinthematerialuniverse,andthepotentialexpansionofhumansoulsandworksthatwillresultfromageneralreturntodirect,immediatecontactwiththenaturalenvironment.IntheessayEmersonclearlyexpressesthemainprinciplesofhisTranscendentalistpursuitandhislovefornature.Byexpressinghisbeliefinthemystical"unityofNature55,Emersondevelopshisconceptofthe"Over-Sour9or"UniversalMincP.Thisessayhasbecomesoimportantthatmostpeopleconsideritanunofficialmanifestoforthe"TranscendentalClub,ABriefExplanationofNatureWhatisnature?IntheIntroductionpartEmersongavethedefinitionofnatureasonepartoftheconstitutionoftheuniverse."Philosophicallyconsidered,theuniverseiscomposedofNatureandtheSouln(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:3).Inhiseyes,natureiseverythingthatisthe so-called"NOTME",intheaspectofcommence,itreferstoessencesunchangedbyman;space,theair,theriver,theleafWhileintheaspectofart,itisappliedtothemixtureofhiswill,withthesamethings,asinahouse,acanal,astatue,apicture.So,therelationofnatureandsoulseemsastherelationofphysicalandspirit,what'smore,thenatureof“NOTME"to"ME，：hasaveryimportantfunction,whichcanclearourmind,calmouremotionandimplythebeauty.ThenEmersonproposedthat:“Whyshouldnotwealsoenjoyanoriginalrelationtotheuniverse?Whyshouldnotwehavepoetryandphilosophyofinsightandnotoftradition,andareligionbyrevelationtous,andnotthehistoryoftheirs?^(Ibid,1)Thisisinfactadeclarationofanindependentspirit.Thenhewrote“Everyman'sconditionisasolutioninhieroglyphictothoseinquirieshewouldpuf5(Ibid,2).ThiswordmadetherightnotestohisviewsmanishisownGod,lookatthenatureinanindependencebrand-newjudgment.AstheleadingNewEnglandTranscendentalist,EmersonaffectedamostarticulatesynthesisoftheTranscendentalistviews-Hisemphasisonthespiritrunsthroughvirtuallyallhiswritings.ThefirstchapterNatureelaboratedthatthenatureimplicationisrich.InEmerson，seyenatureistheembodimentofhumanspirit;thehappynaturepresentshappily,thesorrowfulnaturealsoappearssorrowful.Sohesays"Togointosolitude,amanneedstoretireasmuchasfromhischamberasfromsocietyM(Ibid,3).Headvocatedthatpracticesmoralculturegrowsthesoul,whenonepersonlivesalone;human^seachkindofintrinsictalentonlythenobtainsthefulldevelopment.Atthesametime,Emersonwrote"theintegrityofimpressionmadebymanifoldnatureobjects'XIbid,4).ThisshowsEmerson'RomanticViewofNature一regardstheinfiniteuniverseasanorganicwhole.Thehumanshouldreturntotheparentsubstanceconditiontogotothepureobservationoftheworld.Heregardsnatureasthepurest,andthemostsanctifyingmoralinfluenceonman,andadvocatesadirectintuitionofaspiritualandimmanentGodinnature.Thenextparagraphisthemostsplendid:Standingonthebareground,myheadbathedbytheblitheairandupliftedintoinfinitespace,allmeanegotismvanishes.Ibecomeatransparenteyeball;Iamnothing;seeall;thecurrentsofUniversalBeingcirculatethroughme;IampartorparticleofGod.(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:5)Thisisamomentof"conversion^whenonefeelscompletelymergedwiththeoutsideworld,whenonehascompletelysunkintonatureandbecomeonewithit,andwhenthesoulhasgone beyondthephysicallimitsofthebodytosharetheomniscienceoftheOver-Soul.ThisisalsoEmerson^famoussayingonhistranscendentalism;headvocatedharmonybetweenmanandnature.ThisisthemainbodyofEmersonRomanticism,andthekeyofthetextNature.Becausehemeans"particularnaturalfactsaresymbolsofparticularspiritualfacts.Thereisaforceofpowerintheuniverse,whichispervadingeverywhere,andcanraisesgoodandpunishevil.HecalleditGodorOver-Soul.InthethirdchapterBeauty,Emersontalksaboutthewintersight.Hewriteslikethis:Notlessexcellent,exceptforourlesssusceptibilityintheafternoon,wasthecharm,lastevening,ofaJanuaiysunset.Thewesterncloudsdividedandsubdividedthemselvesintopinkflakesmodulatedwithtintsofunspeakablesoftness;andtheairhadsomuchlifeandsweetness,thatitwasapaintocomewithindoors.(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:9)Here,wecanseethebeautyofnaturehasgreatimpactonman'ssoul.Yet,thiskindofnatureisnotEmerson'snature.Afterspeakinghighlyofthenaturalbeauty,hechangedhisvoiceandpointedout:ButthisbeautyofNaturewhichisseenandfeltasbeautyistheleastpart?Theshowsofday,thedewymorning,therainbow,mountains,orchardsinblossom,starts,moonlight,shadowsinstillwater,andthelike,iftooeagerlyhunted,becomeshowsmerely,andmockuswiththeirunreality.(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:10)Astohim,“BeautyisthemarkGodsetsuponvirtue."(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:11)Strictlyspeaking,Emerson'sdiscussionturnsouttobethetransformationofconceptions,thediscussionofthenaturechangedunconsciouslyintothediscussionofthebeauty;thediscussionofnaturalbeautyturnsouttobeofthevirtueofspirit.ItseemsthatEmersonfoundanabstractconceptionwhichcangathernatureandhumanintoone:Thebeautythatmanifestvirtue,astothenature,itisnaturalbeauty;whencomestoman,itisthebeautyofspiritandmorality.Asamatteroffact,Emerson^originalideaisnotthis.InthefourthchapterLanguage,Emersonclearlystates:Butthisoriginofallwordsthatconveyaspiritualimport—soconspicuousafactinthehistoryoflanguage—isourleastdebttonature.Itisnotwordsonlythatareemblematic;itisthingswhichareemblematic.Everynaturalfactisasymbolofsomespiritualfact.Everyappearanceinnaturecorrespondstosomestateofthemind,andthatstateofthemindcanonlybedescribedbypresentingthatnaturalappearanceasitspicture.(RalphWaldoEmerson1950:15) Actually,Emerson^snatureturnsouttobethemanifestationofhuman'ssoul,ratherthephysicalnaturethathadnothingtodowithhuman.So,thenatureinfactistheverynatureinpeople'sheart,thenaturalbeautyisalsothebeautyofpeopledheart,andthisbeautyistranscendental,itsurpassesthelimitationofpeople'scognition.Atlast,Emersonsays,theachievementoftheechoofthenatureandsouldependonspiritwhichpracticallyisthehighestpresenttothesoulofman,namelyGod. ConclusionAsthespokesmanofAmericantranscendentalismandthetranscendentalmovementEmersondevelopedhisuniquetheory.Emerson，sthoughtisamelting-potwhichabsorbssourcesfromanyreachableplacesandmeltsorminglesalltogetherasaclusterofthoughts?Theoriginsofhisthoughtsareinternational;includingKant，sphilosophyandRomanticIdealism,PuritanisminhisowncountryandalsoConfucianismintheOrientalmysticism.Itdoesnotexaggeratetotakehisthoughtsasthemicrocosmicoftheintellectualcurrenciesoftheearly19thcentury.Heabsorbstheessentialpartofthesephilosophiesandideasbutitisdifferenttoanyoneofthem.Hismajorfocusistoinquireabetterwayofliving,experiencing,functioning,andthinkingfortheactualizationandtranscendenceofitself.HislifelongendeavorandthewholethoughtcanbesummarizedasacontemporaryAmericancriticputit:"Over-Sou「and"Self-Reliance^."Over-SoulMiswhathumanaltogetherhas,eachperson'sthoughtexistsinthisspirit,Human'sintuitioncanexchangewithhim,Emersonpraiseunlimitedpotentialofhumandevelopment,praisedthesupremacyofhuman?Humaniseverything.Andinthe"Self-Reliance篤Emersonholdsthateachmandetermineshisownexistence.Humanisdivineinnature,solongastheydevotethemselvestotraining,remainspureandincorruptiblewithconcentration,theymaybecomeperfect;Human5sconsummationisthefoundationoftheworld'sprogress.Lastbutnotleast,hisfirstbookNatureshowshisthoughtsoftranscendentalism,andplayedanimportantpartintheintellectualhistoryofthenation.ThisthesisisjustabriefstudyofEmersonandhistranscendentalism.Becauseofmylackofknowledge,theremustbemanythingsthatIdonotmentionedandneedtomakefurtherstudy. 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