On The Transcendence Of Emerson’s Individualism

Emersonian individualism is the key issue of Emerson’s system of philosophy and at the same time is viewed as the cornerstone of American culture. Researches at home and abroad on Emerson’s individualism mainly focus on three aspects:1) on the historical background and theoretical origins of Emerson’s individualism; 2) on the influence of Emerson’s individualism on American culture; 3) on the theoretical correlation between Emerson’s individualism and his view of social and natural ethics. By analyzing Emerson’s essays, this thesis believes that the pursuit of self-transcendence, the restoration of the social subjectivity of man and the pursuit of spiritual perfection constitute the transcendence of Emerson’s individualism.This thesis consists of four parts. The Introduction begins with a summary about the historical background of Emerson’s individualism and its theoretical relation with the ideas of transcendentalism. Meanwhile, it offers a literature review on Emerson’s individualism both in China and overseas according to different researching perspectives, which has inspired the argument of this thesis. Furthermore, this part demonstrates the presentation of the transcendence of Emerson’s individualism, which constitutes the structure of this thesis.The first chapter demonstrates that achieving self-transcendence is the expectation of Emerson’s individualism towards the improvement of man. By analyzing essays like "Transcendentalist", "American Scholar", "Self-Reliance", "Compensation" and "Character", this thesis argues that in Emerson’s individualism the possibility of self-transcendence presents in three dimensions:the restoration of self-consciousness, the formation of a holistic mode of thinking and the fulfillment of the practical power of the individual.The second chapter analyzes that on the basis of self-transcendence, endowing subjectivity to the individual, the participant in social practice, is the realistic concern of Emerson’s individualism, which is indicated in Emerson’s essays like "Man the Reformer", "New England Reformer", "Politics" and so forth. This chapter points out that Emerson’s individualism enables man to overcome the external constraints set by the existing society; moreover, it restores man’s confidence in social practice by positing the individual as an initiative agent in the society; it thus paves the way for the betterment of society, which also indicates the practical value of Emerson’s individualism.The third chapter demonstrates that longing for the perfection of personality in man’s communication with nature is the ethical aspiration of Emerson’s individualism. By making a detailed analysis on essays like "Nature", "Over-Soul", "Beauty", this chapter argues that natural spirit is capable of purifying the soul of the individual and shedding light on the value and divinity of human soul. Man’s spiritual existence in nature can be realized as soon as the individual makes connection with natural spirit, which will eventually lead to the perfection of personality.In view of the analysis above, the Conclusion summarizes that the transcendental value of Emerson’s individualism exists in its reverence for human’s essential potent of self-transcendence, as well as in its ultimate goal of reconstructing the relations between man and the self, man and society (others) as well as man and nature on the premise of the individual’s participation.