Ralph Waldo Emerson - Essay Example

Emerson was one of America’s great philosophers. There is much wisdom in everything he writes. In saying that “All things have two handles: beware of the wrong one,” he is quoting from an ancient oracle. It is important to consider what influences are brought to bear on a scholar. The truth, as Emerson indicates, is that scholars are too often bound by theory and what is in their own minds. They need to spend more time looking outside of themselves and at nature to help them determine what is really true and real about the world. People want to rely on the highly educated, they want to trust what he or she says. As such, the scholar has the responsibility to deeply consider what they say and the ideas to which they will put their name. They need to read deeply and talk deeply to as many people as possible. Their opinion is so important that they have a responsibility to learn about the world. This was something that Emerson understood very clearly.  Emerson is especially wise when he talks about the relationship between the spirit and nature:

But the final value of action, like that of books, and better than books, is, that it is a resource. That great principle of undulation in nature that shows itself in the inspiring and expiring of the breath; in desire and satiety; in the ebb and flow of the sea; in day and night; in heat and cold; and as yet more deeply gratified in every atom and every fluid, is known to us under the name of polarity—these “fits of easy transmission and reflection,” as Newton called them, are the law of nature because they are the law of spirit (Self-Reliance).

America is a great country with a proud people. We need to seek out scholars and geniuses like Emerson. They help to show us what it truly important in life and how we can grasp it.

Brenda Uelan. Do you agree or disagree with Brenda Uelan that everyone has something unique and important to say? In addition, how does Brenda’s ideas compare to Emerson's argument?

Uelan is no Emerson. Her argument is that everyone has their own experiences and these are important to understand. We should respect everyone’s opinion. Because each of us is different from one another, we can learn something from everyone. Emerson would definitely disagree with this foolish perspective. Not all opinions are created equally. Some people are smarter than others and know more. The truth is that some people have very limited lives. If we wasted our time listening to them, we would miss out on all the good stuff out there.

That is where her opinion fails: she doesn’t understand the importance of time. We must prioritize who we listen to because we don’t have time for everyone. Frankly, I think we don’t have time to listen to Uelan. In part, the foolishness of her opinion may explain why so many of the relationships in her life were failures.

Uelan was an interesting journalist, but she does not begin to compare to the great Emerson. Even mentioning them in the same breath is unfortunate.