Ralph Waldo Emerson Research Paper

Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet whose life spanned most of the 1800s, is known today primarily for his creative writing abilities. In addition to his skill as a writer, however, he is also known for formulating his own theory of environmental ethics. His theory is not comprehensive enough to be the exclusive environmental policy of our country, but it is nevertheless interesting to study both because of its roots in transcendentalism and its utilization of vivid word pictures. While several aspects of his argument do align with a Christian worldview, Emerson’s ideology, when taken as a whole, neither articulates the full extent of the God-given value of nature, nor does it provide sufficient motivation to unite all people in the cause

As he states in the first chapter of “Nature”, the famous essay which lays the foundation for his theory, “Nature says, — he is my creature, and maugre all his impertinent griefs, he shall be glad with me.” Emerson also states that when he goes out and enjoys God’s creation “I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all…” (“Nature: Chapter One”). Although this last statement seems vague, Emerson seems to be implying that he loses himself in the rapture of these spiritual moments and feels that he is, in a sense, joining with the splendor around him. According to Michael Popejoy, Emerson also believed that in nature we can find “…Truth, Goodness, and Beauty…” (“The Beginnings of American Naturalism”). Thus, according to Emerson, the main purpose of nature is to provide a form of spiritual elevation – it exists to make us better, happier people and to reveal the reality of the spiritual

For example, Christians acknowledge that because the world was made by God, it everywhere bears evidence of his power, glory, and majesty. It is logical, then, that nature should point the human mind towards God. Unfortunately, as Popejay alludes in his article, we have become so consumed by the pursuit of worthless, man-made objects that we have lost sight of the value that God has given people and the natural world (“The Beginnings of American Naturalism”). Therefore, when we pause to admire Creation, we are able both to rediscover the beauty that God intended for us to enjoy and to see Him more clearly. Numerous biblical passages admonish us to regularly contemplate the processes of the natural world. These exhortations were written so that we might better understand the mind of God and so that we would carefully pattern our lives after the balance of work and rest that God has established in the day-to-day habits of His creatures. Thus, Emerson’s view of nature as a place of spiritual solace is certainly supported by the Scriptures and basic