Transcendentalism: An Original Relation to the Universe

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, "I become a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all." What does it mean to lose your "mean egotism" and truly merge with the world around you? In this meetup, we’ll dissect the famous opening chapters of Nature. We will discuss how Emerson views the natural world not just as a resource, but as a language through which the universe speaks to us.

Emerson challenges us to have our own works, laws, and worship. We’ll discuss how to stop living through the eyes of our ancestors and how to build a direct, personal connection to the world we inhabit right now.

Some Videos to Prepare:

The Art of Trusting One’s Self

Transcendentalism

Let’s discuss:

• The Power of Solitude: Emerson says that to be truly alone, one must look at the stars. Does modern technology make "Emersonian solitude" impossible?

• Nature as Discipline: How does the natural world teach us lessons that a classroom or a book cannot?

• The Over-Soul: If we are all part of the same spiritual "current," what does that mean for how we should treat one another?

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