1、Ralph Waldo EmersonFull name:Ralph Waldo EmersonBorn:May 25,1803Died:April 27,1882Era:19th century philosophyRegion:Western PhilosophySchool:TranscendentalismLifeLiteratureInfluenceOtherinformationRalph Waldo Emerson(May25,1803April27,1882)wasanAmericanlecturer,essayist,andpoet,bestrememberedforlead
2、ingtheTranscendentalistmovementofthemid-19thcentury.Hewasseenasachampionofindividualismandaprescientcriticofthecountervailingpressuresofsociety,andhedisseminatedhisthoughtsthroughdozensofpublishedessaysandmorethan1,500publiclecturesacrosstheUnitedStates.HisundergraduatecareeratHarvardwasnotillustrio
3、us（杰出的）,andhisstudiesattheHarvardDivinitySchoolweretruncatedbyvisionproblems,buthewasordainedaministeroftheSecondChurchinBoston,shortlybeforemarryingEllenTuckerin1829.Heresignedin1832.TranscendentalismisagroupofnewideasinliteratureandphilosophythatemergedinNewEnglandintheearly-to-middle19thcentury.I
4、tissometimescalledAmericanTranscendentalismtodistinguishitfromotherusesofthewordtranscendental.Themovementdevelopedinthe1830sand40sasaprotestagainstthegeneralstateofcultureandsociety,andinparticular,thestateofintellectualismatHarvardUniversityandthedoctrineoftheUnitarianchurchtaughtatHarvardDivinity
5、School.Amongtranscendentalistscorebeliefswasthebeliefinanidealspiritualstatethattranscendsthephysicalandempiricalandisrealizedonlythroughtheindividualsintuition,ratherthanthroughthedoctrinesofestablishedreligions.ThemajorfiguresinthemovementwereRalphWaldoEmerson,HenryDavidThoreau,WaltWhitman.Henry D
6、avid Thoreau(July12,1817May6,1862)wasanAmericanauthor,poet,abolitionist(废奴主义者),naturalist,taxresister,developmentcritic,surveyor,historian,philosopher,andleadingtranscendentalist.HeisbestknownforhisbookWalden,areflectionuponsimplelivinginnaturalsurroundings,andhisessay,Civil Disobedience,anargumentf
7、orindividualresistancetocivilgovernmentinmoraloppositiontoanunjuststate.WaldenbyHenryDavidThoreauisoneofthebest-knownnon-fictionbookswrittenbyanAmerican.Publishedin1854,itdetailsThoreaussojourn(旅居)inacabinnearWaldenPond,amidstwoodlandownedbyhisfriendandmentorRalphWaldoEmerson,nearConcord,Massachuset
8、ts.ThoreaulivedatWaldenfortwoyears,twomonths,andtwodays,butWaldenwaswrittensothatthestayappearstobeayear,withexpressedseasonaldivisions.Thoreaudidnotintendtoliveasahermit,forhereceivedvisitorsandreturnedtheirvisits.Walt Whitman(May31,1819March26,1892)wasanAmericanpoet,essayistandjournalist.Ahumanist
9、hewasapartofthetransitionbetweentranscendentalismandrealism,incorporatingbothviewsinhisworks.WhitmanisamongthemostinfluentialpoetsintheAmericancanon,oftencalledthefatheroffreeverse.Hisworkwasverycontroversialinitstime,particularlyhispoetrycollectionLeaves of Grass,whichwasdescribedasobsceneforitsov
10、ertsexuality.In1835,EmersonmarriedLydiaJackson;theylivedinConcordandhadfourchildrenwhilehesettledintohislifeofconversations,readingandwriting,andlecturing,whichfurnishedacomfortableincome.Hewasvigorousinmiddleage,travelingfrequently,butwasincreasinglyawareofhislimitsandfailingenergy.Hehadbecomequite
11、famous,amajorfigureintheAmericanliterarylandscape,acelebritywhichbroughtbothadulationandsatire.Hehadbeenaprofoundinspirationformanywriters,especiallyHenryThoreauandWaltWhitman.Emersongraduallymovedawayfromthereligiousandsocialbeliefsofhiscontemporaries,formulatingandexpressingthephilosophyofTranscen
12、dentalisminhis1836essay,Nature.Followingthisground-breakingwork,hegaveaspeechentitledThe American Scholar in1837,whichOliverWendellHolmes,Sr.consideredtobeAmericasIntellectualDeclarationofIndependence.Consideredoneofthegreatlecturersofthetime,Emersonhadanenthusiasmandrespectforhisaudiencethatenraptu
13、redcrowds.Emersonwrotemostofhisimportantessaysaslecturesfirst,thenrevisedthemforprint.HisfirsttwocollectionsofessaysEssays:First Series andEssays:Second Series,publishedrespectivelyin1841and1844representthecoreofhisthinking,andincludesuchwell-knownessaysasSelf-Reliance,The Over-Soul,Circles,The Poet
14、 andExperience.TogetherwithNature,theseessaysmadethedecadefromthemid-1830stothemid-1840sEmersonsmostfertileperiod.Hecontinuedhisspeechesagainstslavery,butneverwiththefireofTheodoreParker.In1857hewroteanessayon“Memory”butironically,inhislateryears,hisownmemorywouldfalter,especiallyafterhisbelovedhous
15、eburnedin1872.Hediedquietlyofpneumonia（肺炎）in1882.Oliver Wendell Holmes,Sr.(August29,1809October7,1894)wasanAmericanphysician,professor,lecturer,andauthor.Regardedbyhispeersasoneofthebestwritersofthe19thcentury,heisconsideredamemberoftheFiresidePoets.HismostfamousproseworksaretheBreakfast-Tableseries
16、whichbeganwithThe Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table(1858).Heisrecognizedasanimportantmedicalreformer.Nature;AddressesandLectures(1849)NatureIntroductionChapterI.NatureChapterII.CommodityChapterIII.BeautyChapterIV.LanguageChapterV.DisciplineChapterVI.IdealismChapterVII.SpiritChapterVIII.ProspectsEssay
17、s:First Series(1841)History Self-Reliance(also:Understanding Self-Reliance)Compensation Spiritual LawsLove Friendship Prudence Heroism The Over-Soul Circles Intellect ArtEssays:Second Series(1844)The Poet Experience Character Manners Gifts Nature PoliticsNominalist and RealistNew England ReformersAd
18、dressesTheAmericanScholarDivinitySchoolAddressLiteraryEthicsTheMethodofNatureLecturesMantheReformerIntroductoryLectureontheTimesTheConservativeTheTranscendentalistTheYoungAmericanRalphWaldoEmerson:majorworksNature自然（1836）：themanifestoofAmericantranscendentalismandtheBibleofNewEnglandtranscendentalis
19、m.TheAmericanScholar美国学者（1837）：AmericasDeclarationofIntellectualIndependence.Self-Reliance论自助(1841)：theimportanceofcultivatingoneselfEmersonsfirstbook,Nature(1836),isperhapsthebestexpressionofhisTranscendentalism,thebeliefthateverythinginourworldevenadropofdewisamicrocosmoftheuniverse.Hisconceptofth
20、eOver-SoulaSupremeMindthateverymanandwomanshareallowedTranscendentaliststodisregardexternalauthorityandtorelyinsteadondirectexperience.Trustthyself,Emersonsmotto,becamethecodeofMargaretFuller,BronsonAlcott,HenryDavidThoreau,andW.E.Channing.From1842to1844,EmersoneditedtheTranscendentalistjournal,TheD
21、ial.Natureby Ralph Waldo EmersonTo go into solitude,a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.I am not solitary whilst I read and write,though nobody is with me.But if a man would be alone,let him look at the stars.The rays that come from those heavenly worlds,will separate betw
22、een him and what he touches.One might think the atmosphere was made transparent with this design,to give man,in the heavenly bodies,the perpetual presence of the sublime.Seen in the streets of cities,how great they are!爱默生：走入孤独，远离书斋，如走入孤独，远离书斋，如同远离社会一样重要。纵然无人在我身旁，同远离社会一样重要。纵然无人在我身旁，当我读书或写作时，并非独处一隅。如
23、果当我读书或写作时，并非独处一隅。如果一个人渴望独处，就请他注目于星辰吧。一个人渴望独处，就请他注目于星辰吧。那从天界下行的光芒，使人们得以出离可那从天界下行的光芒，使人们得以出离可触摸的现世。可以这样说，我们假想，大触摸的现世。可以这样说，我们假想，大气之所以透明，就是为了让人们看到天国气之所以透明，就是为了让人们看到天国的灿烂光芒。从普通城市的街道向上看，的灿烂光芒。从普通城市的街道向上看，它们是如此深邃伟岸。它们是如此深邃伟岸。For,nature is not always tricked in holiday attire,but the same scene which yeste
24、rday breathed perfume and glittered as for the frolic of the nymphs(少女少女),is overspread with melancholy today.Nature always wears the colors of the spirit.To a man laboring under calamity,the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it.Then,there is a kind of contempt of the landscape felt by him who ha
25、s just lost by death a dear friend.The sky is less grand as it shuts down over less worth in the population.自然并不总悦人以节日盛装，昨日氤氲芬自然并不总悦人以节日盛装，昨日氤氲芬芳晶亮悦目芳晶亮悦目,如为林仙嬉乐而设的同一景如为林仙嬉乐而设的同一景致，今天就可能蒙上悲伤的面纱。自然总致，今天就可能蒙上悲伤的面纱。自然总是折射着观者的精神状态。对于在病痛中是折射着观者的精神状态。对于在病痛中挣扎的人，他自身散发的焦虑挣扎就涵容挣扎的人，他自身散发的焦虑挣扎就涵容着悲伤。当爱友逝去时，人们
26、会对那风景着悲伤。当爱友逝去时，人们会对那风景感到些许漠然。当蓝天落幕于社会底层者感到些许漠然。当蓝天落幕于社会底层者眼前，它的壮丽也会减色。眼前，它的壮丽也会减色。Theoldfablecoversadoctrineevernewandsublime;thatthereisOneMan,presenttoallparticularmenonlypartially,orthroughonefaculty;andthatyoumusttakethewholesocietytofindthewholeman.Manisnotafarmer,oraprofessor,oranengineer,but
27、heisall.Manispriest,andscholar,andstatesman,andproducer,andsoldier.Inthedividedorsocialstate,thesefunctionsareparceledouttoindividuals,eachofwhomaimstodohisstintofthejointwork,thefableimplies,thattheindividual,topossesshimself,mustsometimesreturnfromhisownlabortoembracealltheotherlaborers.TheAmerica
28、nScholarButunfortunately,thisoriginalunit,thisfountainofpower,hasbeensodistributedtomultitudes,hasbeensominutelysubdividedandpeddledout,thatitisspilledintodrops,andcannotbegathered.Thestateofsocietyisoneinwhichthemembershavesufferedfromthetrunk,andstrutaboutsomanywalkingmonsters,?agoodfinger,aneck,a
29、stomach,anelbow,butneveraman.Self-reliance论自助Emerson:“Self-reliance”:quotesAfoolishconsistencyisthehobgoblinoflittleminds,adoredbylittlestatesmenandphilosophersanddivines.Withconsistencyagreatsoulhassimplynothingtodo.Hemayaswellconcernhimselfwithhisshadowonthewall.Speakwhatyouthinknowinhardworks,and
30、tomorrowspeakwhattomorrowthinksinhardworksagain,thoughitcontradicteverythingyousaidtoday.-“Ah,soyoushallbesuretobemisunderstood.”-isitsobad,then,tobemisunderstood?”Pythagoraswasmisunderstood,andSocrates,andJesus,andLuther,andCopernicus,andGalileo,andNewton,andeverypureandwisespiritthatevertookflesh.
31、Tobegreatistobemisunderstood.Self-relianceiswidelyconsideredtobethedefinitivestatementofRalphWaldoEmersonsphilosophyofindividualismandthefinestexampleofhisprose.Emersonwasknownforhisrepeateduseofphrase“trustthyself”“Self-reliance”ishisexplanation-bothsystematicandpassionate-ofwhathemeantbythisandofw
32、hyhewasmovedtomakeithiscatch-phrase.Theme:individualismEmersoncallsonindividualstovaluetheirownthoughts,opinions,andexperiencesabovethosepresentedtobethembyotherindividuals,society,andreligion.ThisradicalindividualismspringsfromEmersonsbeliefthateachindividualisnotjustuniquebutdivinelyunique;i.e.,ea
33、chindividualisauniqueexpressionofgodcreativityandwill.Further,sinceEmersonsgodispurposeful,hemoldedeachindividualtoserveaparticularpurpose,todoacertainworkthatonlyheorsheisequippedtocarryout.大神大神血污的杀人者若以为他杀了人，死者若以为他已经披杀戮，他们是对我玄妙的道了解不深我离去而又折回的道路。遥远的，被遗忘的，如在我目前；阴影与日光完全相仿；消火了的神祗仍在我之前出现；荣辱于我都是一样。忘了我的人，他
34、是失算；逃避我的人，我是他的两翅；我是怀疑者同时也是那疑团，而我是那僧侣，也是他唱诵的圣诗。有力的神道渴慕我的家宅，七圣徒也同样痴心妄想；但是你谦卑的爱善者！你找到了我，而抛弃了天堂！（张爱玲译）Emersonwroteonanumberofsubjects,neverespousingfixedphilosophicaltenets,butdevelopingcertainideassuchasindividuality,freedom,theabilityformantorealizealmostanything,andtherelationshipbetweenthesoulandthe
35、surroundingworld.Emersonsnaturewasmorephilosophicalthannaturalistic;Philosophicallyconsidered,theuniverseiscomposedofNatureandtheSoul.Whilehiswritingstylecanbeseenassomewhatimpenetrable,andwasthoughtsoeveninhisowntime,EmersonsessaysremainoneofthelinchpinsofAmericanthinking,andEmersonsworkhasinfluenc
36、ednearlyeverygenerationofthinker,writerandpoetsincehistime.Whenaskedtosumuphiswork,hesaidhiscentraldoctrinewastheinfinitudeoftheprivateman.RalphWaldoEmersonwasknownfirstasanorator.Emersonconvertedmanyofhisorationsintoessays.AstudentofEmersonsessayswillalsowanttostudyEmersonsJournals sinceheoftenwork
37、edoutinhisjournalentriesideasthatlaterappearinhisorationsandessays.Asoneofthearchitectsofthetranscendentalistmovement,Emersonembracedaphilosophythatchampionedtheindividual,emphasizedindependentthought,andprizedthesplendidlabyrinthofonesownperceptions.Morethananywriterofhistime,heforgedastyledistinct
38、fromhisEuropeanpredecessorsandembodiedanddefinedwhatitmeanttobeanAmerican.MatthewArnoldcalledEmersonsessaysthemostimportantworkdoneinprose.Iwassimmering,simmering,simmering.Emersonbroughtmetoaboil.-WaltWhitman“在我看来，没有神圣的事实，也没有不神圣的事实。我只在我看来，没有神圣的事实，也没有不神圣的事实。我只是试验者，我是个永不停息追索者，在我身后永远不存在是试验者，我是个永不停息追索者
39、在我身后永远不存在过去过去”。“我必须提供的三条实用准则是：第一，决不阅读任何写出来我必须提供的三条实用准则是：第一，决不阅读任何写出来不到一年的书；第二，不是名著不读；第三，只读你喜欢的书。不到一年的书；第二，不是名著不读；第三，只读你喜欢的书。”每个真正的人都是每个真正的人都是个事业、一个国家和个事业、一个国家和个时代；他们需要个时代；他们需要无限的空间、无数的人和无限的时间去完成自己的使命；子孙无限的空间、无数的人和无限的时间去完成自己的使命；子孙后代似乎像一排门客，跟随在他的身后。后代似乎像一排门客，跟随在他的身后。爱默生爱默生EpigrambyEmersonThefirstweal
40、thishealth.健康是人生的第一笔财富。Agreatmanisalwayswillingtobelittle.伟大的人物总是愿意当小人物的。Self-trustisthefirstsecretofsuccess.自信乃成功之第一秘诀。Progressistheactivityoftodayandtheassuranceoftomorrow.进步是今天的活动，明天的保证。Noonecancheatyououtofultimatesuccessbutyourselves.除了你自己之外，没有人能哄骗你离开最后的成功。Therewardofathingwelldoneistohavedoneit.RWEmerson
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