Emerson and Thoreau Essay Example for Free

Emerson and Thoreau Essay Ralph Waldo Emersons American Scholar highlights three influences that affect the minds learning process. The things by which helps to educate man are nature, books, and through action. Mans mind is like nature, vast and holds many secrets to be uncovered and enjoyed. How nature unfolds is like the unfolding of the mind; what laws govern it are those created by the mind. As for books, Emerson recommends that man should only learn from them exact science and historical events. He asserts that books should be used for inspiration and read during idle times. Books should not be used as the bible of the learning man. They should not be taken to be truth, for the realities of the past may not hold true in the present. Lastly, Emerson encourages the scholar to take part in labor, service, and discourse. These activities are the manifestations of his thoughts. Without action, Emerson says that a scholar has not become fully a man. 2. During Henry David Thoreaus time, he was dissatisfied with how the government ran the country. His resistance was mainly founded on the issue of slavery, for which he was greatly opposed. As a way of expressing this criticism he wrote Civil Disobedience detailing what he thought was wrong with government and how it can be remedied. He asserts in the essay that the citizens have a duty to speak out when he sees and experiences wrong governance. He likened the government to machine without a conscience that should not be allowed to bring injustice and enslave the people. Thoreaus resistance to what he saw as injustice is not a form of treason. He felt it his duty to speak out and bring positive change to his country. He encourages citizens to take a more active role and resist the unjust dictates of a conscience-less machine. Thoreau postulates that the best government is one that does not interfere too much with its citizens.