The American Scholar : A Speech To The Phi Kappa Beta Society By Ralph Waldo Emerson

During the nineteenth century, American schools have caused a raise of differences towards the method of educating students. In his essay, “Education”, an influential American thinker and writer, Ralph Waldo Emerson recommends the parents to take in consideration for their children’s lives by creating a better teaching in which the students can learn/imply the basic fundamentals on their strive for success by doing it on their own. Emerson emphasizes his claim by encouraging a teaching method that children use their “naturel” by utilizing paradox, metaphors and analogy.

Every morning students arrive at school with only one thing on their minds: how much longer until they can leave. Forced to look at white walls and white boards with blank, empty expressions, imagine a school where these miserable government subjects of a harsh educational experiment could feel human again. In Education by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he discusses how humanity can be put back into classrooms and that the ideal form of learning should allow children to be enthusiastic about school. Emerson believes that self-education is the most proficient way to create academic success. His idea of a personal, yet rigorous, learning environment should be implemented throughout Appoquinimink School District by altering the curriculum, modifying

"In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, - no disgrace, no calamity (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair. Standing on the bare ground, - my head bathed by the blithe air and uplifted into infinite space, - all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God."

In this essay, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his view of an ideal education. What are its defining characteristics?

In the essay, “Education”, the author, Ralph Waldo Emerson shares his perspective of what an ideal education would look like. Among other things, Emerson wholeheartedly believes that a student must bloom on their own with little to no interjections from teachers. He urges the audience that in order to have a quintessential educational system in the United States, teachers must follow a laissez-faire policy and “respect the child”. However, throughout the essay, Emerson makes numerous assumptions, one of these being in paragraph 10 when he argues that “every young man [and woman] is born with some determination in his [or her] nature, and is a potential genius.” This statement is undoubtedly true. No matter the person, the characteristic of determination is innate, and it’s possible, but not guaranteed, for anyone to become what society labels as a “genius”.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” Emerson is a firm believer of maintaining self-reliance and values rather than following the crowd. He also explains that in order to be truly successful in life, a person must make decisions and trust in his or her judgment. In today’s society, teenagers are more likely to not be self-reliant because the teens feel they will be judged for having different beliefs. People today need to realize that they should not conform to be like the rest of the world, they must not depend on the judgment and criticism of others, and people must refuse to travel somewhere in order to forget their personal problems. Through Emerson’s piece, readers are able to

This was the battle started with the “shot heard ‘round the world” as Ralph Waldo Emerson observed.

his profession as a pastor in search for vital truth and hope. But his father

Although I acknowledge that the more we read the more we become a better critical reader, my critical reading skills have not fully developed and this factor has affected my college career a lot.

In the year of 1600’s, the United States of America was being colonized by European countries especially by England. However, on 4th of July 1776 America became independent after having drafted the “Declaration of Independence” initiated by Thomas Jefferson [History of the United States, Wikipedia]. The difference between these two time periods shows that Britain had colonized America for about 176 years which ultimately led to prosper European cultures. Although America became an independent nation, European culture was still playing its role. Therefore, American writers namely Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau presented an idea about American Identity.

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 address to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at Harvard, called “The American Scholar”, he makes clear his thoughts and ideas on the European cultural and cerebral influence on America. Emerson wanted to get across that American scholars needed to create their own independent American literature and academic world, separate from European history.

Ralph Waldo Emerson							I am writing this essay on the beliefs and thoughts of Ralph Waldo Emerson on the subjects of individuality, society, government, technology, and spirituality.

"From the first day that the United States won its independance, thoughtful Americans have attempted to define the new national identity" that decolonization invited. Becoming an independant political nation forced citizens to suddenly devise a "community and character" (Finkelman, 63) worthy of this newborn America. It was believed that, once free from Birtish fetters, a unique American character would emerge automatically. But this was not so, and it was left up to the artits, politictians, scientists, businessmen and women, and every other citizen to contrive the American identity. Those who were most accomplished at scrutinizing the American identity and what it was, were the many authors and writers of the 19th century.

Emerson speaks of Americas ability to deviate from the norms set in Europe in one of his formal speeches given in 1837 on August 31st in Cambridge. It was simply titled “The American Scholar” (originally titled: An Oration Delivered before the Phi Beta Kappa Society, at Cambridge, [Massachusetts,] August 31, 1837). He begins with speaking of how this gathering is distinctive and is nothing like the ones of the past in Europe. He believes it is time to begin anew as a new country of people. He believed that the society they were living in were only allowing them to imitate with the majority and not allow them to be “Man Thinking”. (Emerson, “The American Scholar”). The only way to reflect on such a high level is to throw

In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s various essays, poems, and other writings, he puts significant emphasis upon defining what constitutes success among men. “The American Scholar” and “Self-Reliance,” two of Emerson’s most well-known essays, describe in detail the attributes of a successful, enlightened human being; the most essential characteristics, judging by Emerson’s continued reiteration of their value, are most certainly self-trust, nonconformity, and the ability to live in the present. Contemporary American society reinforces these qualities in many ways, but they often seem to be superseded by materialism, insecurities, lamentations, and other ephemeral distractions. According to Emerson, the only way to be considered