Emerson and Self-relianceRowman & Littlefield, 2002 - 221 pages This reprint is distinguished by a new preface reconsidering Emerson's Nature, a work that goes undiscussed in the text proper (Kateb moves toward the notion that Emerson's divinization of humanity renders the balance with nature lost, "its mute appeal denied"). Nonetheless, Kateb (politics, Princeton U.) views Emerson as a radical for his commitment to individualism as an ideal suitable for democracy. Emerson calls it "self-reliance" and Kateb distinguishes between the mental and active kinds, suggesting Emerson elevates intellectual independence above independence of character and practical achievement. Nietzsche is held up as Emerson's best reader, Kateb aspiring to a reading of Emerson friendly to Nietzsche's interests. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR |
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active self-reliance aesthetic aestheticism affirm alienation and disappointment antagonism appears aspiration beauty become believe better character church religions commitment conceptual culture democracy democratic individuality divine doctrine Early Lectures effort egotism Emerson gives Emerson says Emerson thinks Emerson's religiousness Emersonian essay evil existence experience expression fact feel feminine friendship Fugitive Slave Law Harvard Divinity School hence hermaphroditic History of Intellect idea Idealism Jean-Jacques Rousseau Kateb Lectures and Sketches live masculine meaningfulness means mental self-reliance metaphysical Miscellanies moral Natural History Nietzsche numbers one's oneself Over-Soul particular passage passion perception person philosophical Plato poet poetical political possible practice praise radical Ralph Waldo Emerson reality receptivity relation representative democracy seems self-acquaintance self-reliant activity self-reliant individual self-reliant mind self-reliant thinking sense sentiment sexual love slavery social Society and Solitude soul speak spirit strategy theory things Thoreau tion Trans truth universe vocation Whitman whole words worldly