Biography of Ralph Waldo Emerson

Transcend the doctrine

25 may 1803
27 April 1882
Ralph Waldo Emerson, essayist and poet, and one of the most influential philosophers and writers, was born in Boston on 25 may 1803. The father is the Reverend William Emerson, pastor of the Unitarian Church. His son will become Minister Pastor: will move gradually from the doctrines of his peers and make first the philosophy of transcendentalism, with the publication in 1836 of his essay "Nature" (Nature). His father died in 1810, when Emerson has only eight. 14, Emerson enrolled at Harvard University; He was appointed President of the freshman class, a position that will give him a chance to have a room without incurring costs. His means were scarce and to contain further expenses needed in the cafeteria. During the winter holidays was also working as a tutor and teacher in the school of his uncle Ripley in Waltham, Massachusetts.
Emerson graduated in 1821; then begins the activity of his brother's Assistant in a school for girls which is headquartered in his mother's House. His brother moved to Göttingen to study theology, and Ralph takes care of the school. After several years in which Emerson holds the position of principal, in 1825 is called by Harvard University, at the Faculty of theology (Harvard Divinity Hall). In 1826 is admitted to preaching. Ralph Waldo Emerson emerges as pastor of the Unitarian Church in 1829. Two years later the young wife Helen Louisa Tucker dies. In 1832 Emerson resigned because of a dispute with the official Church, concerning the administration of communion (Emerson does not consider the Eucharist as a sacrament) and the reluctance towards public prayers. Then begins a trip to Europe from which to draw inspiration for his essay "English Traits (1856). During his trip Emerson meet other writers and intellectuals including Wordsworth, Coleridge, John Stuart Mill, and Thomas Carlyle.
With the latter, Emerson will maintain an intense epistolary relationship for life. Emerson in 1835 he settled in Concord, New Hampshire, quickly becoming one of the most influential citizens of the city. Here bride Lydia Jackson. In September 1836, along with other intellectuals founded the Transcendental Club Inc, to him, which will serve as the center of the movement; in July 1840 publishes the newspaper "The Dial". Emerson published his first essay, "nature," anonymously in September 1836: the opera will become the fundamental manifest of transcendentalism, and will contain the principles and essence of this philosophy. This idealist doctrine opposed to materialism and the Calvinist vision of life and at the same time offered artificial arguments for the freedom of the individual from all restraint. At this time Emerson holds a strong friendship with writers Nathaniel Hawthorne and Henry David Thoreau, in the company of which it is easy to see him walking around Concord.
In 1838 he was invited to return to the theology faculty of Harvard to give a speech at the awarding of the degrees. His remarks are aimed at insulting the institution of the Church, causing dismay in the entire Protestant community time: Emerson says that Jesus Christ was a great man, but he was not God. For this speech Emerson atheist is accused of being, and charged as a poisoner of minds of young people. Despite the cries of his accusers Emerson will not replicate, leaving others to his defense. No longer being invited to speak at Harvard for over 40 ann; in the years around 1885 its location will be the official position of the Unitarian doctrine. In early 1842 Emerson loses his first son, Waldo, died of scarlet fever. Emerson writes of this pain in two great works: the poem "Threnod" and "Experience". In the same year, William James. Ralph Waldo Emerson is famous for being an author abstract, which however was able to run a multitude of people to their speeches. It is considered one of the greatest orators of all time.
Emerson always insisted on the fact that he didn't want followers, but trying to bring people back to themselves, as individuals. When he was asked to sum up his work, he replied that in his doctrine remained central the infinitude of the individual. He died on 27 June 1882; his body is buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.
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