How can I challenge Emerson's "The American Scholar"?

Question

some idea's please.

Answer 1

I suspect you can't. This essay is truly brilliant. It should be mandatory reading for every 'academic'.

A few quotes from the essay reveal Emerson's keen insights on the subject.

"...the scholar is the delegated intellect. In the right state, he is, Man Thinking. In the degenerate state, when the victim of society, he tends to become a mere thinker, or, still worse, the parrot of other men's thinking."

"...every man a student..."

"The scholar is he of all men whom this spectacle (nature) most engages."

"...science is nothing but the finding of analogy."

"...instead of Man Thinking, we have the bookworm."

"Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst." "They are for nothing but to inspire."

"...genius looks forward ... man hopes; genius creates."

"American colleges will recede in their public importance, whilst they grow richer every year." (Is this not even more true today?)

"Action ... without it, thought can never ripen into truth." "Inaction is cowardice."

"Character is higher than intellect." ... "A great soul will be strong to live, as well as strong to think."

Regarding the duties of the scholar he notes they are: "to guide men by showing them facts amidst appearances."

A scholar "is one, who raises himself from private considerations."

"Fear always springs from ignorance."

"Not he is great who can alter matter, but he who can alter my state of mind."

"It is one soul which animates all men."

"The drop is a small ocean."

Regarding the scholar he states: "He must be an university of knowledges". "It is for you (the scholar) to dare all."