Over the course of history, many different ideas and ways of finding the purpose of life have been constructed, but few truly captivated and drawn the attention of a mass following. Three philosophies which have done so are those of Puritanism, Deism, and Transcendentalism. The first, emphasizing God and the strict following of his word, the second, reasoning and rationality, and the third, connecting and finding the answers to life through oneself. The canonical literature created by some of the celebrated writers in the United States shows a progression in regards to finding answers concerning life’s purpose, through nature. To begin, Puritans turned to nature for answers and signs from God and Satan. Although it was written in the twentieth
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For example, in Patrick Henry’s, Speech to the Virginia Convention, while speaking to his audience whom he is trying to persuade, he elaborates that “different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore…[he] shall speak forth [his] sentiments freely and without reserve” (230). This is very a rational statement due to that fact that it addresses the notion that each person is entitled to their own viewpoint on the same issue. Deists believed that there was truth in rationality, thus allowing them to connect to life’s purpose. Additionally, in “Letters to John Adams,” by Abigail Adams, she writes to her husband to influence his choices when drafting the Constitution, and stresses “not [putting] such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. [Reminding him that], all men would be tyrants if they could" (PDF 1). Here, Adams’ rational view is expressed in her letter to her husband. This ties to the idea of Deists seeking rationality as an answer to their questions by discussing very real and prevalent topics at hand. Having said this, a shift from the earlier Puritan ways can be seen by a transition from signs from God, to …show more content…
With this said, in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s, Self-Reliance, he speaks of the importance of an individual taking the initiative, saying "that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till" (245). Emerson is explaining the importance of taking action to achieve what one wishes, while at the same time staying in touch with the inner self. This goes back to contributing to the greater good of the universe, which is in tune with the individual. This shows a further advancement from the rationalist ways of Deism, to gaining touch within oneself, and in return the rest of the universe. Moreover, Emerson also goes on to speak of the importance of individuality, to make emphatic that "envy is ignorance [and] imitation is suicide” (245). This quotation boils down to the Transcendental belief that individuality is an absolute necessity in life, and it can be achieved by remaining in touch with nature. Overall, the Transcendental ways advance in a new direction than those of their predecessor Deism, by turning from rationalism, to connecting with the inner self, and in turn the entire interconnected
For example, in Patrick Henry’s, Speech to the Virginia Convention, while speaking to his audience whom he is trying to persuade, he elaborates that “different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore…[he] shall speak forth [his] sentiments freely and without reserve” (230). This is very a rational statement due to that fact that it addresses the notion that each person is entitled to their own viewpoint on the same issue. Deists believed that there was truth in rationality, thus allowing them to connect to life’s purpose. Additionally, in “Letters to John Adams,” by Abigail Adams, she writes to her husband to influence his choices when drafting the Constitution, and stresses “not [putting] such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. [Reminding him that], all men would be tyrants if they could" (PDF 1). Here, Adams’ rational view is expressed in her letter to her husband. This ties to the idea of Deists seeking rationality as an answer to their questions by discussing very real and prevalent topics at hand. Having said this, a shift from the earlier Puritan ways can be seen by a transition from signs from God, to …show more content…
With this said, in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s, Self-Reliance, he speaks of the importance of an individual taking the initiative, saying "that he must take himself for better, for worse, as his portion; that though the wide universe is good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till" (245). Emerson is explaining the importance of taking action to achieve what one wishes, while at the same time staying in touch with the inner self. This goes back to contributing to the greater good of the universe, which is in tune with the individual. This shows a further advancement from the rationalist ways of Deism, to gaining touch within oneself, and in return the rest of the universe. Moreover, Emerson also goes on to speak of the importance of individuality, to make emphatic that "envy is ignorance [and] imitation is suicide” (245). This quotation boils down to the Transcendental belief that individuality is an absolute necessity in life, and it can be achieved by remaining in touch with nature. Overall, the Transcendental ways advance in a new direction than those of their predecessor Deism, by turning from rationalism, to connecting with the inner self, and in turn the entire interconnected