Summary Of Man, Muir And Emerson: The Ideas Of Holy Environmentalism
Man, Muir and Emerson: The Ideas of Holy Environmentalism
Abstract: Muir and Emerson initiated the beginnings of highlighting transcendental beliefs and connecting the thoughts of God through nature. While each author seemingly employs differing approaches to establishing this idea of holy environmentalism, the themes and stylings remain largely coherent with one another through the belief in nature as the inventions of God and therefore a medium in which mankind is to gain knowledge.
On the surface, John Muir and Ralph Waldo Emerson seemingly have different approaches to environmentalism that differ in terms of man’s interconnection with nature. On one hand, Muir’s approach is very direct as seen within his workings in “God’s First Temples: …show more content…
Emerson backs this viewpoint by discussing that the purpose of nature is to teach and that the role of mankind is to learn and reap the seeds of knowledge planted by God. For instance, Emerson states “The wind sows the seed; the sun evaporates the sea; the wind blows the vapor to the field; the ice, on the other side of the planet, condenses rain on this side; the rain feeds the plant; the plant feeds the animal” (Emerson, 11) to reinforce the idea that all actions, events, and causes all stem from the predeterminations of God and subsequently occur to provide for the advancement of man. It can also be seen that the sequence of events through the usage of asyndeton that Emerson writes intertwine aspects of the living and nonliving components of nature which all meld together to serve man. This idea of servitude is indicated when Muir finishes the line with “this the endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man” (Emerson, 11) to control the ebbs and flow of nature concentrated into the idea that man is the sole proprietor of nature. Also, by using the word “divine”, this suggests that nature is the creation of God and therefore given for use to how mankind sees fit. Emerson’s usage of asyndeton to separate man and nature highlights the relationship that man has to …show more content…
Muir further differentiates in writing style from Emerson and concept as Muir’s writings take the perspective of describing nature vividly instead of focusing on man's relationship to nature. For instance, when Muir describes the forest and the winds he
Abstract: Muir and Emerson initiated the beginnings of highlighting transcendental beliefs and connecting the thoughts of God through nature. While each author seemingly employs differing approaches to establishing this idea of holy environmentalism, the themes and stylings remain largely coherent with one another through the belief in nature as the inventions of God and therefore a medium in which mankind is to gain knowledge.
On the surface, John Muir and Ralph Waldo Emerson seemingly have different approaches to environmentalism that differ in terms of man’s interconnection with nature. On one hand, Muir’s approach is very direct as seen within his workings in “God’s First Temples: …show more content…
Emerson backs this viewpoint by discussing that the purpose of nature is to teach and that the role of mankind is to learn and reap the seeds of knowledge planted by God. For instance, Emerson states “The wind sows the seed; the sun evaporates the sea; the wind blows the vapor to the field; the ice, on the other side of the planet, condenses rain on this side; the rain feeds the plant; the plant feeds the animal” (Emerson, 11) to reinforce the idea that all actions, events, and causes all stem from the predeterminations of God and subsequently occur to provide for the advancement of man. It can also be seen that the sequence of events through the usage of asyndeton that Emerson writes intertwine aspects of the living and nonliving components of nature which all meld together to serve man. This idea of servitude is indicated when Muir finishes the line with “this the endless circulations of the divine charity nourish man” (Emerson, 11) to control the ebbs and flow of nature concentrated into the idea that man is the sole proprietor of nature. Also, by using the word “divine”, this suggests that nature is the creation of God and therefore given for use to how mankind sees fit. Emerson’s usage of asyndeton to separate man and nature highlights the relationship that man has to …show more content…
Muir further differentiates in writing style from Emerson and concept as Muir’s writings take the perspective of describing nature vividly instead of focusing on man's relationship to nature. For instance, when Muir describes the forest and the winds he