An Analysis Of Emerson’s View On American Scholar

As a well-known thinker in American history,Ralph Waldo Emerson(1803-1892)has made great contributions to the advancement of American thought and culture.At the same time,Emerson is also an outstanding educator and an excellent American scholar in American history.As an educator,Emerson devotes himself to the educational reform in the nineteenth century and offers his own educational ideas and concepts in order to cultivate new men who meet the needs of the development of America.As a reputed American scholar,Emerson lays his focus upon the theme of American scholar in his essays and addresses.Emerson’s view on scholar is reflective of his educational thoughts on one hand and to some extent reflects historical background on the other hand.Therefore,based on Emerson’s essays and addresses concerning the theme and related literatures as well as putting into consideration the nineteenth-century historical context in which Emerson lives,the thesis studies Emerson’s view on American scholar.When closely reading his works on the theme,the thesis finds out that Emerson shows his own ideal new American intellectual who enjoys wisdom,virtues and commitments.Therefore,the thesis puts focus on wisdom,virtues and commitments of a scholar so as to analyze Emerson’s view on scholar,namely his view on new American intellectual.The thesis consists of introduction,main body and conclusion.As for the main body of the thesis,it is divided into three chapters.In the first chapter,attention is paid on the ways of gaining wisdom for Emerson’s ideal scholar,and a scholar’s relations with book and with nature are expounded fully.The thesis points out that according to Emerson,a scholar needs to be a good reader and an active learner in his or her connections with book and nature.The second chapter works to analyze three major virtues of Emerson’s ideal scholar.They are the virtues of being brave,staying in the solitude and being dedicated to action.When examining them,focus is put on the meanings behind them.In the third chapter,the thesis makes an analysis of two commitments of Emerson’s scholar.They are private one and public one.Emerson’s scholar is expected to think actively and to disseminate his or her own thoughts as a way to inspire and guide the public.