| Abstrakt: |
This article discusses the views of Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet, on nature. In his book "Nature," Emerson wrote on the mystery of nature. He said that nature cannot be understood merely as a commodity, or a resource; it can only be understood in romance. By romance, Emerson means the love of life. To understand nature, Emerson said, one must revel in its sanctity and its enchantment. Moreover, Emerson argued that nature yields commodity, beauty, language and discipline. Commodity because nature provides sustenance, life, life-support and prosperity. Beauty because woods and sky serve nobler wants, and nothing can be more beautiful. Language because every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact. Discipline because as nature is confronts man, man figures life out and thus, molds character. Emerson also spoke of the correlate aspects of nature: natura naturata, which are passive and inert objects; and natura naturans, which are active, energetic and restless processes and objects. |
