What is Nature? | Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Nature”

In 1837, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “Nature”, an essay that pays respect to nature and the individuals within it. The text starts out by showing Emerson’s intent to break away from traditions and philosophies of the past in order to look to the future and create for himself. He then goes on to define nature both in a philosophical sense and in a more common sense.
After definitions, Emerson discusses the four “uses” of nature: commodity, beauty, language, and discipline. Commodity refers to natures ability to meet our material needs. Beauty is divided up into three aspects which focus on perception, nature’s relationship to human action, and the totality of nature. Language discusses how the words are used to describe nature, but nature is a symbol of spirit. Finally, discipline refers to the incredible learning opportunities that nature can bring us. #philosophy #emerson #nature

Music by: HoobeZa

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