The Essay “Nature” by R. W. Emerson Research Paper

Introduction

It is important to note that the underlying subject of the given analysis is nature and exploration, which have dual aspects when it comes to their relationship with a human being. On the one hand, nature is a person’s physical surroundings through which he or she learns. On the other hand, it has a spiritual and religious significance. One of the topical sources that raise questions about the role of nature in human life and its function as a link in interaction with higher forces is Nature by R. W. Emerson. In Nature, Emerson thoroughly highlights, contemplates, and concludes that nature is the source of ethics and science acquired through exploration of its spiritual, intellectual, and religious aspects manifested in God.

Nature as a Source of Human Spirituality and Love

Firstly, nature is the source of human spirituality and love, and Emerson confirms this by stating that “a nobler want of man is served by nature, namely, the love of Beauty” (5). In other words, nature has a role and purpose in invoking the sense of love and beauty, which are essential sources of moral wisdom. The author also writes that “the lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood” (Emerson 4). Thus, human spirituality is preserved and acquired through a deliberate and deep connection with his or her surrounding intact environment. There is a need to explore and feel emotions in regard to nature, which calibrates and adjusts the internal psychological imbalances between what a person does and says to what he or she experiences and feels. The stated reciprocity and interdependence of human spirituality with nature are also supported by Henry David Thoreau. He states that “nature is as well adapted to our weakness as to our strength” (Thoreau 9). Since spirituality is an elusive and hard-to-define aspect of human existence, there are no artificial or manmade means to preserve it in a healthy state. Therefore, nature is one of the only gateways towards retaining psychological wellbeing and internal peace, which manifests in love and connection to nature. One cannot be moral without love and spirituality since ethics is dependent on empathy and care. Without these elements, ethicality discipline becomes a dry concept enabled for abuse and exploitation by those who seek to cause harm and pain. For example, all ethical theories are rooted in the assumption that there are such concepts as good and bad or right and wrong, from which different perspectives emerge, such as duty or utilitarianism. However, these fundamental notions would not exist without human empathy and some form of spirituality unexplainable by pure knowledge, which is why nature is a source of ethics.

Nature as a Source of Human Intelligence and Knowledge

Secondly, nature is the source of human intelligence and knowledge since it invokes the search for truth, exploration, philosophical concepts, and scientific understandings and is “a discipline of the understanding in intellectual truths” (Emerson 12). In other words, the current state of science is a result of the exploration of nature, which turned into a multitude of disciplines known as physics, chemistry, biology, geography, and astronomy. The author states: “here again we are impressed and even daunted by the immense Universe to be explored. ‘What we know, is a point to what we do not know’” (Emerson 13). Only nature stimulates human thought and logic to better his or her understanding of the world he or she lives in by pushing the boundaries between known and unknown. All human beings are driven and made intelligent solely by nature alone. While various teachers, preachers, and educators can provide a person with knowledge, they are mere transferors of information from its source, which is nature. The latter statement is supported by Barbara M. Newman and Philip R. Newman, who see nature as a tool that stimulates cognition from an early age. They state that “the self-concept can be viewed as a theory that links the child’s understanding of the nature of the world, the nature of the self, and the meaning of interactions between the two” (Newman and Newman 269). Thus, it becomes more evident that the modern achievement of human civilization is intricately connected to nature’s mysteries being solved by humanity. One cannot deny the impact of science and engineering in advancing human civilization towards better existence through increased levels of comfort, convenience, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety of living in modernity. An intelligent person knows the inherent qualities of objects and people, as well as the contrasts, gradations, and parallels that exist among the many natural manifestations. The acquired knowledge is applied in the practical academic fields. When an individual gains a better comprehension of basic physical principles, he or she moves closer to understanding the rules of existence and limiting conceptions, such as time and space, might lose their meaning in the wider perspective. However, one needs to be reminded of the source of science and human intellect because it is nature that granted its wisdom and knowledge by presenting itself for curious people to explore. For example, the current disregard for nature reflected in pollution, climate change, and endangerment of many species is a sign of the forgetfulness of humanity about its source of such power and intelligence. Therefore, each individual needs to recognize that science is a discipline of acquiring and using the knowledge which was obtained directly from nature.

Nature as a Source of Religion: The Spirit of God

Thirdly, nature is the source of religious comprehension because it is a manifestation of God’s mental image, as well as His creation, and, as Emerson notes, “nature always wears the colors of the Spirit” (4). In other words, nature should not be viewed as something soulless created by God but rather as one aspect of His being. It is important to note that only nature provides sustenance for humanity, and, as Herbert Girardet notes, “our collective consumerism has become the main interface between humans and nature” (136). This means that people have no choice but to turn to nature as the main supplier of vital resources. In dynamic cultural environments, people have to adapt to life by maintaining a balance between humanity and consumerism. According to Newman and Newman, “the nature of change is a product of efforts to retain a sense of system identity and boundaries in the face of multiple demands and shifts in the environments” (50). In this case, natural forces are considered together with the divine since nature is God. Nature should not be viewed separately from God because it is His main method of connecting with His creations, testing their faith, and guiding them to a path of righteousness. The Scriptures and the Word of God are useful instructions filled with Godly wisdom, but it does not compare in-depth, significance, and impact to His main instrument and His Spirit’s manifestation, which is nature itself. On the basis of the provided perspective from the sources and their subsequent analysis, it can be stated that the loss of religiosity and adherence to God’s wisdom could be the result of humanity’s detachment from nature. In other words, being closely connected to nature, appreciating and caring for it, as well as protecting it can be described as an act of worship to the Spirit of God and God Himself. Therefore, nature is a substantial source of deep religious comprehension and understanding because it is one manifestation of the Spirit of God through which He expresses His infinite love and wrath towards His creations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, in Nature by R. W. Emerson, the author insightfully argues that nature is the source of human spirituality, intellect, and religious understanding since it is the Spirit of God. Therefore, both ethics and science are fundamentally built on the wisdom granted by nature and nothing else. Firstly, nature is the source of human spirituality because it invokes love through its beauty, restores balance, and brings psychological wellbeing. Secondly, nature is the source of human intelligence since all scientific disciplines are based on deepening people’s comprehension of the world around them. Thirdly, nature is the major source of religious understanding because it is the manifestation of the Spirit of God through which He supports, tests, sustains, and loves His creations. Thus, nature is neither solely a physical environment nor something metaphysical because it is both since it is one important aspect of God.

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph W. Nature. James Munroe and Company, 2009.

Girardet, Herbert. “People and Nature in an Urban World.” One Earth, vol. 2, no. 2, 2020, pp. 135-137.

Newman, Barbara M., and Philip R. Newman. Development Through Life: A Psychosocial Approach. 13th ed., Cengage Learning, 2017.

Thoreau, Henry D. Walden and On the Duty of Civil Disobedience. The Project Gutenberg, 1995.