Classics and the Western Canon discussion

The reading schedule for the Transcendentalist Project is:

Nov 11- Nov 17 -- Emerson, the Transcendentalist
Nov 18 - Nov 24 -- Emerson, Nature, through Chapter 4 (Language)
Nov 25 - Dec 01 -- Emerson, Nature, Chapter 5 (Discipline) to end
Dec 02 - Dec 08 -- Emerson, Self Reliance
Dec 09 - Dec 15 -- Thoreau, Walden. Because the book is long, we are skipping the section on Economy (or, rather, we are making it optional). So the "official" reading for this week is "Where I Lived" through "Baker Farm."
Dec 16 - 22 -- Thoreau, Walden, week 2, Higher Laws through end
Dec 23 - Dec 30 -- Thoreau, Civil Disobedience
Dec 31 - Jan 05 -- Week 8- Alcott, Transcendental Oats. This is a short selection, which we propose to use as a starting point for a discussion of whether Transcendentalism is relevant to the modern world, and if so how.

"Transcendalism", for a second there, I thought Zeke had returned and would lead the discussion.

Nemo wrote: ""Transcendalism", for a second there, I thought Zeke had returned and would lead the discussion."

I wish. If you're lurking out there, Zeke, come back!

I am excited about this. I am interested in philosophy, but know little. I am slowly putting together different pieces of the puzzle, and this piece looks interesting!

Genni wrote: "I am excited about this. I am interested in philosophy, but know little. I am slowly putting together different pieces of the puzzle, and this piece looks interesting!"

We'll be interested in hearing your thoughts. Be sure to be active in the discussion -- sometimes the best way to clarify your thoughts for yourself is to try to express them to others. And we're a safe and supportive group of others to try them out on.

Everyman wrote: "Genni wrote: "I am excited about this. I am interested in philosophy, but know little. I am slowly putting together different pieces of the puzzle, and this piece looks interesting!"

We'll be inte..."

Thanks for the encouragement. :-) I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by slowly. I haven't left ancient Greece yet. Lol) so Transcendentalism is going to be a big skip for me chronologically, but hopefully, it will be an illuminating one.

Genni wrote: "I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by slowly. I haven't left ancient Greece yet."

Wow! That's impressive, and I think you'll find Plato helpful in reading Emerson and Thoreau. Emerson especially.

Thomas wrote: "Genni wrote: "I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by slowly. I haven'..."

That's good to hear. It was not all in vain. :D

Genni wrote: "Thomas wrote: "Genni wrote: "I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by s..."


I'm with Thomas. I think you'll find some quite Platonic ideas in Emerson.

A note on the readings. If you have copies of Emerson's essays, you will find two essays titled "Nature." The one we will be reading is his major 1832 short book/long essay, with chapter headings as noted in the reading schedule. Don't confuse this with the essay "Nature" in his Second Essays.

Don't worry, though, when the time comes we'll provide an Internet citation to the correct essay.

Huzzah! I love the transcendentalists! Excellent choice, moderators!

I highly recommend the Norton critical edition of Walden/Civil Disobedience for anyone interested. The supplementary materials includes correspondence with Emerson, and an incredibly interesting discussion on the construction process of Walden- fun for anyone interested in memoir.

Hope you will share some of that information when we get there.

Genni wrote: "I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by slowly. I haven'..."

I too, am impressed! I discovered as I struggled with the Plato we read last year & some subsequent philosophical discussions, that my analytical thinking has much difficulty with the abstract. These discussions are definitely not a strength. I've had both Emerson & Walden books on my shelf since college days (70's) that I had abandoned at that time, but kept thinking maybe a more mature Chris may be able to tackle. So I guess this is the time, eh?

Chris wrote: "Genni wrote: "I loved the discussion we had when we did three Platonic dialogues. I have spent the last year working my way through all of the dialogues (you can see what I mean by slowly. I haven'..."

Just because I read them doesn't mean I understood them! :p I also stuggle with them, but I think the struggle is good. It is one way to grow. So I definitely think now is the time to tackle them!

Genni wrote: "Just because I resd them doesn't mean I understood them! :p I also stuggle with them, but I think the struggle is good. It is one way to grow."

Have you by any chance glanced at my review of the Republic? I very much agree with the struggle, and the goodness of it.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Everyman wrote: "Genni wrote: "Just because I resd them doesn't mean I understood them! :p I also stuggle with them, but I think the struggle is good. It is one way to grow."

Have you by any chance glanced at my r..."

I had not, but I just did. I also got a kick out of reading the comments. :p that is exactly it. I feel that, after spending a year with them, I can do nothing more than make a few generalized statements; that there is so much I missed, didn't undestand etc. I really want to spend another year reading them, but I'm also super curious about Aristotle and all who followed! The struggle is real. [g]

Ps-I saw you mention Nominating Aristotle in the Tea shop thread. I hope he wins a vote soon, because dicussing him with this group would be perfect.