Emerson's struggle for self-transcendence

Abstract

In his essay "Experience", Ralph Waldo Emerson lays down the essential components of his ascetic, solitary life. His writings are essentially of the existential struggles that he has encountered in living his life. He does not design any sort of moral code or cohesive philosophical doctrine. On the contrary, he speaks of the joys and pleasures of living out his uniquely self-reliant lifestyle, and makes recommendations for those who wish to live their own, individual lives in a similarly independent fashion. This is not to say that his essay is devoid of criticism. Indeed, he criticizes elements of society and the way in which his fellow men lead their lives. But all the while, his criticisms stem from his own personal experiences and struggles. He is not interested in proposing a rubric for men to live by, though he does state that in his own experience he has discovered the benefits of being self-reliant and following his own instincts, which are at the seat of man's creative genius