Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“

Nature

”

and

“

Self-Reliance

”      

God is always near He reveals Himself everywhere and at all times in nature.

In His presence we feel real delight in spite of sorrow.

Nature gives us better,

“

higher

”

emotions

.

thoughts and “In the woods, is perpetual youth” (Nature).

Every person should place full trust in himself or herself (Self-Reliance).



Never conform (one of the main issues with society)

The Transcendental View

 

The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world (simply SEEING something and appreciating it is not enough…we must FEEL it).



“transparent eyeball” People can use their intuition to behold

God

’

s spirit revealed in nature or in their own souls.

The Transcendental View, continued…

 

Self- reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority and blind conformity to custom and tradition.

Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality.