tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post2847057400203050946..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo EmersonBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70325750450247028282016-03-17T03:03:31.214-04:002016-03-17T03:03:31.214-04:00Personally I like Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes. Grea...Personally I like Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes. Great compilation. Thanks for sharing!! You may like- <a href="http://www.quoteschart.com/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quotes" rel="nofollow">http://www.quoteschart.com/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quotes</a>Ralph Waldo Emerson quotehttp://www.quoteschart.com/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson-quotenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-28671894566718338522013-06-12T06:20:43.053-04:002013-06-12T06:20:43.053-04:00Hi VB - Ha! That is a great thought about Emerson ...Hi VB - Ha! That is a great thought about Emerson being too smart to be a true philosopher! I wonder who wrote it.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-71330168996044924202013-06-12T05:30:04.579-04:002013-06-12T05:30:04.579-04:00I read somewhere that Emerson is too smart to be a...I read somewhere that Emerson is too smart to be a philosopher..His view on reliance, justice morality and the thinking process is a real treat to read...I must say I haven't read any of his work except his essay "history" though I have been wanting to read more of his work but I must admit that it never materialized.. vbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01815931257531886393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-59691872348676636412013-05-12T14:14:57.132-04:002013-05-12T14:14:57.132-04:00Hi Tom - Ha! How true. Not too much moderation!Hi Tom - Ha! How true. Not too much moderation!Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-68965723150098411462013-05-12T14:14:12.773-04:002013-05-12T14:14:12.773-04:00Hi Maria -I did get the impression from this essay...Hi Maria -I did get the impression from this essay that Emerson does advocate being ready to throw beliefs out if one finds it to necessarily do so. He comes down fairly strongly on the side of being able to reject long held patterns of thought quickly) suppose that one of many reasons that thinkers like Emerson come to prominence is <br /><br />I would disagree with you, at least in part regarding morality and religion. I do think that morality has and can exist without religion. I also find most religious believe systems, at least in regards to their original texts, to be a mix of admirable, moral teachings with the advocacy of horrendous barbarity or at least questionable morality (granted, there are exceptions).Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-55686883317028683432013-05-12T13:09:50.770-04:002013-05-12T13:09:50.770-04:00Moderation in all things, including moderation.Moderation in all things, including moderation.Amateur Reader (Tom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/13675275555757408496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-60101457788018883232013-05-12T12:43:18.519-04:002013-05-12T12:43:18.519-04:00Hey, Brian!
This is a very cogent analysis of a w...Hey, Brian!<br /><br />This is a very cogent analysis of a work of seminal influence in the history of philosophy, and I greatly enjoyed reading it!<br /><br />The quotes you have chosen indicate that Emerson went to extremes in some areas, so I do agree with you when you criticize him for doing so. <br /><br />On the whole, from what you're saying here, it seems as if this is a very self-contradictory work. His statement regarding consistency totally baffles me. What the heck is wrong with being consistent? Does this not indicate that one is following a code of behavior that reflects one's most deeply felt moral convictions, which, by the way, were formed by religious belief systems? Or does he mean that one should not be so predictable that one becomes boring? I think this is one of those extremes you're referring to. This one point does bear some analysis. If one's behavior is consistently inconsistent (lol), this will tend to drive other people up the wall. Besides, being consistently inconsistent IS being consistent!<br /><br />Since I'm a moderate in all things (at least, I try to be consistently so...) I totally dislike extremes. So, while I do agree with Emerson on the matter of not thinking or behaving in certain ways in order to please others, I still think that society needs an objective moral compass. If everyone relied upon their instincts exclusively, then MY belief that what I'm doing is right might conflict with yours, especially if what I believe is right, will somehow cause you harm.<br /><br />I must definitely get my hands on this book! It obviously has much food for thought. I want to read it just so that I can formulate refutations to some of Emerson's ideas, although I do agree with others.<br /><br />Thanks for another EXCELLENT review!! :)Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38182701253052995802013-05-07T22:41:06.401-04:002013-05-07T22:41:06.401-04:00Hi Jane - One nice thing about reading Emerson tha...Hi Jane - One nice thing about reading Emerson that makes him enjoyable is that I find him to be a great prose writer. He flows almost like poetry.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33649346788441324602013-05-07T14:17:12.608-04:002013-05-07T14:17:12.608-04:00I applaud your project to actually read what Emers...I applaud your project to actually read what Emerson wrote--I'm not sure I have the fortitude myself to do so. As you point out, he stays at the abstract level and doesn't indulge in story-telling to make his point.<br /><br />I've always found his impracticality maddening, but I think you are on to something with the observation about intolerance and stagnation. <br /><br />Interesting post.JaneGShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11094501834387622997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12040566716630761922013-04-29T09:02:41.706-04:002013-04-29T09:02:41.706-04:00Hi Heidi - I completely agree with you when it com...Hi Heidi - I completely agree with you when it comes to collective knowledge. I have come across a lot of people who believe in it both personally and in my reading. The problem everyone seems to have completely different opinion about the specifics of this knowledge. <br /><br />I also agree with us having a connection in terms of us all having a lot in common.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34625029281180806732013-04-29T08:46:54.339-04:002013-04-29T08:46:54.339-04:00Great review and comments. My daughter is studying...Great review and comments. My daughter is studying Emerson and Thoreau in her college class. She was asking me questions, but I haven't read them! Yikes. Another author I need to explore. <br /><br />I was thinking about this collective knowledge idea--or what does he call it?--when I read Finding Moosewood, Finding god. <br /><br />As I work teaching children, it's hard to fully embrace this idea. Children really have no idea about concepts and especially history. I'm always astounded by what my children don't know. <br /><br />We do have a connection to each other. I guess I'll just have to read it to find out exactly what he's saying. Thanks for spurring me on to read it.Heidi’sbookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15647096496574605262noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-72895066227022995672013-04-29T08:35:17.218-04:002013-04-29T08:35:17.218-04:00Hi Violet - I agree about society being so much mo...Hi Violet - I agree about society being so much more rigid in the time of Emerson and how such a situation would influence ones interactions with others.<br /><br />I find this thread interesting, Yourself, Tom and Caroline arguing that Emerson was not exactly the same thing as other philosophers. I feel that I do not know enough about philosophy to have a really strong opinion.I am on the level of a journeyman at best. With that said a few points that I am thinking about - - Emerson did lay out a coherent worldview that encompassed, God, the meaning of life, psychology, etc. He did so using reason and logic. This belief system has had an enormous influence on current thinking. I personally know lots of folks who come really close to sharing his worldview. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15519040865935318212013-04-29T08:27:27.344-04:002013-04-29T08:27:27.344-04:00Hi Rachel - As I am currently reading alot of Emer...Hi Rachel - As I am currently reading alot of Emerson I agree that one needs to be careful about picking out one line. I have read a very limited numbers of philosophers and essayists. With that said several of them, Nietzsche in particular tend to be a bit testy when addressing diverging belief systems.<br /><br />I do think that we need to judge the belief systems of folks like Emerson as he was advocating a worldview that he wished that everyone embrace.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-39894542636446590312013-04-29T02:40:39.545-04:002013-04-29T02:40:39.545-04:00I think it's easy for us to forget from our 21...I think it's easy for us to forget from our 21C perspective just how rigid society was in Emerson's time, and I think that both he and Thoreau were engaged in exploring their own minds and thoughts and ways of being in the world. I see them as being Philosophers Lite, which may be unkind, but I can't really compare them with Kant or Nietzsche, et al. Violethttp://still-life-with-books.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52585454621322335312013-04-28T21:51:28.130-04:002013-04-28T21:51:28.130-04:00Interesting comments. I think the final quote abou...Interesting comments. I think the final quote about seeking his own companions if you do not think like him is interesting - a bit unexpected, I guess. But I haven't read any of his essays, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised! <br /><br />I am a firm believer in finding your own path, but I think that it is impossible to find much of a path if you are intolerant and uninterested in others' philosophies!<br /><br />It takes all types, though! Who am I to be intolerant of a dead man's intolerance? ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01974988315420539840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36512076052860275012013-04-28T09:16:33.863-04:002013-04-28T09:16:33.863-04:00Hi Caroline - I think that one of the major points...Hi Caroline - I think that one of the major points to reading is to be exposed to divergent ideas. <br /><br /><br />You and time may very well be correct when it comes to the last quote. As I mention, Emerson, unlike similar writers that I have read, does not provide a lot of examples so that he is difficult to pin down.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65407398732385943632013-04-28T09:13:33.587-04:002013-04-28T09:13:33.587-04:00Hi Sharon -I like to follow these logical progress...Hi Sharon -I like to follow these logical progressions that people take too. It is one of the things that make reading this stuff so interesting.<br /><br />I have not read Blake yet. I look forward to reading your thoughts on him.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-68667699717982263012013-04-28T08:23:10.282-04:002013-04-28T08:23:10.282-04:00I think I agree with Tom and would rather call him...I think I agree with Tom and would rather call him an essayist than a philosopher but that doesn't take away anything from him, of course. <br />I find it interesting that you read through his work although you often disagree. <br />I was wondering about that last quote. It didn't strike me as intolerant. On the very contrary but maybe I misunderstand. I think that telling somone to stay with those who think like they do he speaks against proselytism but it's possible I got that all wrong. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15383623473969462552013-04-27T23:48:44.177-04:002013-04-27T23:48:44.177-04:00Very interesting view, Brian. I have yet to read ...Very interesting view, Brian. I have yet to read anything by Emerson. I've always shied away from him because he didn't strike me as someone I would be interested in. I'm glad to be able to read your review of his books, though. <br />My opinion on him could change, thanks to you. Not because I agree with his philosophy but because it's good to read the line of logic people take to explain why they believe what they believe.<br />I'm currently discovering that with William Blake. Take care!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-7010908223383721622013-04-27T15:56:00.068-04:002013-04-27T15:56:00.068-04:00Hi Harvee - Though it is hard to know if his opini...Hi Harvee - Though it is hard to know if his opinions have changed I find that at least when it comes to many elements of modern society, Emerson's views have become very popular.<br /><br /><br />There are major distrust of institutions and every kind of belief system. People are segmented into their own little belief group and are often intolerant of diverging opinions. This is especially true when it comes to politics. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-43217413882817135922013-04-27T15:06:41.214-04:002013-04-27T15:06:41.214-04:00I wonder if Emerson would feel the same if he were...I wonder if Emerson would feel the same if he were in today's world.Harveehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490108303790217277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-34393488324232167012013-04-26T19:36:01.418-04:002013-04-26T19:36:01.418-04:00Hi Naida - Good point about Emerson's contradi...Hi Naida - Good point about Emerson's contradictions and his related complexity. <br /><br />In my opinion this is often also the sign of an important thinker.Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-61698253531894909072013-04-26T19:33:37.693-04:002013-04-26T19:33:37.693-04:00Hi Lucy - i have not yet read The American Scholar...Hi Lucy - i have not yet read The American Scholar but will likely do so as I make my way through Emerson.<br /><br />I found that the whole instinct over reason belief system a common thread in many things that I reed from the 1700's on.<br /><br />I would love to hear your thoughts on this if you decide to read it. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-65716734421136227592013-04-26T19:27:16.173-04:002013-04-26T19:27:16.173-04:00Hi Stu - Good point about meaningfulness. I think ...Hi Stu - Good point about meaningfulness. I think that one thing that sometimes distinguishes a great mind is the timelessness of their ideas. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-14353577238359620092013-04-26T16:49:04.795-04:002013-04-26T16:49:04.795-04:00I've only every read random Ralph Waldo Emerso...I've only every read random Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes.<br />"If you are true, but not in the same truth with me, cleave to your companions; I will seek my own."<-this does sound very close minded of him. Then again he's saying to love him for who he is. I think he was a complex person. <br />Great post Brian! Enjoy your weekend :)The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.com