Why Emerson considered man is an analogy? And What is th relationship between human, god and nature in Emerson's point of view?
Check this site:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson
To understand why Ralph Waldo Emerson considered man an analogy, we need to delve into his philosophy. Emerson was a prominent American transcendentalist philosopher and writer who believed in the inherent goodness of humanity and the interconnectedness of all things. He saw the world as a reflection of the mind, and the mind as a reflection of the divine.
Emerson considered man an analogy because he believed that humans, as individuals, embodied the qualities and characteristics present in the larger universe. Just as nature has its laws and patterns, so does humanity. He saw man as a microcosm of the macrocosm, reflecting the same principles and truths that govern the natural world. By understanding oneself, Emerson believed that one could come to understand the universal truths that underpin existence.
In Emerson's view, the relationship between human, God, and nature was intertwined. He saw nature as the visible manifestation of the divine, a source of inspiration and spiritual insight. Nature, according to Emerson, contained the wisdom and knowledge of God, and by immersing oneself in the natural world, one could connect directly with the divine. He valued direct experience and intuition as means of understanding the deeper truths of existence.
Emerson believed in the inherent divinity of humanity. He saw the human soul as a spark of the divine, capable of profound insight and connection to the world around them. By recognizing and cultivating this divine spark within oneself, individuals could strive for self-reliance and transcend the limitations imposed by society and conventional thinking.
In summary, Emerson considered man an analogy because he believed that the individual is a reflection of the larger universe and that by understanding oneself, one can come to understand the universal truths that govern existence. He believed in the interconnectedness of human, God, and nature, considering nature as the visible manifestation of the divine and the source of spiritual insight. Emerson's philosophy emphasized the inherent goodness and divinity of humanity, encouraging individuals to cultivate their innate wisdom and strive for self-reliance.