The Resonance Of Nature And Human Beings--On Emerson's Transcendental Aesthetics And The Influence On Literature

Ralph Waldo Emerson was born on May 25, 1803 in Boston, Massachusetts. He is widely regarded as one of America's most influential authors, philosophers and thinkers. At one time a Unitarian minister, Emerson left his pastorate because of doctrinal disputes with his superiors. Soon after, on a trip to Europe, he met a number of intellectuals, including Thomas Carlyle and William Wordsworth. The ideas of these men, along with those of Plato and some of the Hindu, Buddhist, and Persian thinkers and German idealists and the English romantics had a great effect on his development of the philosophy of "Transcendentalism". In the early nineteenth century, American intellectuals were deeply influenced by European culture. Although it was independent, from the sense of culture , American culture largely copied other countries' culture. Ralph Waldo Emerson's publication of nature in 1836 began a process of creating a new condition of American thinking, severed from European cultural and intellectual influences. In the 1930s and 1940s ,influenced by European romanticism movement,Transcendentalism was established bit by bit which meant American literature was indeed independent。There are many reasons for the appearance of Transcendentalism. The settlers in England were strictly limited by the doctrinal regulations, thus religious senses were deeply rooted. With the passage of time ,Unitarian religious fanaticism began to flag and became listless. The ideas of Plato in ancient Roman had an impact on Transcendentalism. Platonism put an emphasis on spirit and valued truth,kindness and beauty and reached the ideal spiritual state. We can also find some relations between some ideas of Transcendentalism and those of mysticism in the Orient. Transcendentalism's ideas about the reconciliation of soul and nature were related to the combination of individual soul with universal soul.In the nineteenth century, the Transcendentalists fought against the dominant institutions by embracing the importance of individuality, against religion, traditional society, valuing simplicity, specifically in nature and believing that each person was capable of reaching a heightened spiritual state. The themes of Transcendentalism helped foster our concept of individuality in America, personal "truth" beyond one religion, government, or social "norm" is the cornerstone of American democracy. Transcendentalism's influence on modern American society and literature is great. Pointing out how the importance of individuality and simplicity lead one to accept personal responsibility often proves Modern literature quite affirmative. He emphasized individualism and rejected traditional authority. He also believed that people should try to live a simple life in harmony with nature and with others. Emerson urged independent thinking and stressed that not all life's answers are found in books. He believed that a scholar learns best by engaging life.Emerson's ideological systems have both extensive knowledge and profound scholarship. Transcendentalism had a great impact on American's world outlook. Transcendentalists had optimistic,self-confident and positive .spirits which encouraged the growing and maturing American nation greatly. Emerson's philosophical ideas, aesthetics and theory of literature and art had strong humanism tendency. Transcendentalism not only guided American morality, but also caused the revolution in the circles of intellectual and literature. As a leader of American Renaissance and remarkable essayist, Emerson's thoughts in literature and art and styles of writing influenced American writers and poets of several generations.