Emerson Articulated Experiences Within Nature

As I read this passage from Emerson I was struck by a couple of different thoughts. First, I thought about how well Emerson described the way I've sometimes felt when I've been out in nature, enjoying a perfect experience in a striking setting. This moment of perfection doesn't always happen for me, and I can never predict or plan for it to occur. But once in awhile, maybe when I'm out for a run on a crisp, clear fall day or maybe when I'm camping far from cities and people and confusion, I get a sense of what Emerson is trying to convey here. During these moments I feel that my own small problems and experiences are nothing -- that it is really the sum of existence which is all that is important. When I get this glimpse into eternity I feel better able to cope with my small life. I remember that my life is just one life contributing to the whole of existence. We all feed into, nurture, and support one another. It is a feeling that is hard to describe, but it's a feeling of being completely part and parcel of Nature.

I think that Emerson's ideas on social issues stem from this feeling of oneness. He seems to feel that political issues are transient and that only eternal issues, such as the nature of man and the relationship of man with Nature, are of long-lasting value. Even relationships we normally consider as somewhat sacred, such as the bond between brothers, are, according to Emerson, less important than the relationship of mankind. This is a fairly shocking idea, and one that is definitely not pursued by most of us. But it is also an idea which, if pursued, would have far-reaching consequences upon the ways in which we all relate with the other people of the world. If we all followed this philosophy we would be much less concerned with ourselves and our own people and more concerned about all of society, indeed, all Nature.

I imagine that many of Emerson's contemporaries understood his musings and were inspired by them. The Romantic period was going strong, and such writers as Poe and Wordsworth were expressing similar ideas. Although we often think of nineteenth century religion as being rather formal and institutional, I think that many progressive ideas were being explored and discussed openly. Also, even though the thoughts that are expressed by poets and other thinkers may not represent the common culture of society, they are often prophetic, foreshadowing ideas that will become popularly accepted some time later. This seems to be the case with Emerson. He was accepted and believed by many during his time, but his influence has been even stronger since then.