Emerson believes that school and books are essential to education. Books are a great way to help learn about the past; they are, “best type of the influence of the past, and perhaps we shall get at the truth, — learn the amount of this influence more conveniently” (Emerson 3). Books can also provide another man’s insight for the reader: “It came into him, life; it went out from him, truth. It came to him, short-lived actions; it went out from him, immortal thoughts” (Emerson 4). Similarly, school can create and gather brilliant minds together: “but to create; when they gather from far every ray of various genius to their hospitable halls, and, by the concentrated fires, set the hearts of their youth on flame” (Emerson 6). While Emerson values the benefits and contributions of books and school he can see the negative which is very similar and can relate to John Locke.
Locke like Emerson can see the value of school and books. Both can be a great foundation for your knowledge; however, books and school cannot be your only form of education. Resorting only to books and school take away from an individual. Emerson finds that there are many valuable aspects of a person such as an active soul and thought. However, through books there is no thought only an avid reader: “instead of Man Thinking, we have the bookworm” (Emerson 5). Additionally, every individual has an active soul and the “soul active sees absolute truth; and utters truth, or creates” (Emerson 5). An active soul is what makes a genius, but with school and books it prevents one from having an active soul. In relations to school, schooling is great to the extent of teaching the necessary and fundamentals. However, it is detrimental when it starts to force one to learn: “Colleges, in like manner, have their indispensable office, — to teach elements. But they can only highly serve us, when they aim not to drill” (Emerson 6). With extensive use school and books it abolishes creativity and diversity ultimately hurting one’s learning experience. Both Emerson and Locke have the same opinion on schools and books. Both can be tools for success; however, they can cause more harm than good when misused. “Books are the best of things, well used; abused, among the worst” (Emerson 4).
This is my peer response post to Eric Chan’s post
I agree with what Eric says about how Emerson believes that school and books are essential to education, but this formal education should not be your only form of education. Emerson states, “Books are the best type of the influence of the past, and perhaps we shall get at the truth – learn the amount of this influence more conveniently” (3). Books give insight on what has already happened, helping you learn from history’s mistakes, however, as time passes, there are certain things that can be outdated, so “Each age, it is found, must write its own books; or rather, each generation for the next succeeding” (Emerson, 4). Books do provide another man’s insight for the reader, but people interpret information differently, whether it is because you are from a different era or different area of the world. Granted, books teach you a substantial amount of information, but that is all it does; you are just basically memorizing the text that is given to you.
I also agree with Eric’s point of how Emerson’s values reflect a little of John Locke’s values concerning books. There is a substantial amount of value of books and schools and they are a great foundation for your knowledge, but it definitely should not be your only source of knowledge. Emerson coins the term, “bookworm”, to identify the people who basically just memorize the information given to them in books (4). His belief is that books are, “… for nothing but to inspire” (5). Like Locke, Emerson believes that you gain knowledge through your experience, “We no more feel or know it, than we feel the feet, or the hand, or the brain of our body” (6); you only know what you have already experienced or what you have learned from others, “I learn immediately from any speaker how much he has already lived, through the poverty or the splendor of his speech” (Emerson, 7). Books and formal education are important for the foundation of knowledge, but it definitely should not be your only source of it, be “man thinking” and learn more about the topics that interest you and really think about what you are reading to develop your own thoughts and opinions on the topic. Who knows, maybe you’ll end up proving the author wrong!
What’s good:
You’re really engaging Emerson.
You’re using a lot of quotes, and you’re doing a good job of linking his ideas on books to his ideas on school.
Concern:
I don’t really know how you’re using Locke here. It seems like you want to make a connection, but you kind of just mention him for a little bit in the middle.
Also it’s not surprising that Locke is not strong here because I’m not sure your reading of Locke really holds water. Locke doesn’t (not in the readings I gave you) explicitly talk about schools and books, so it’s a harder comparison to make here.
Lastly, if you’re not comparing Locke and Emerson, I think I need a little more focus and clarity about what your claim is here. Right now it seems like you’re doing a good job explaining something going on in Emerson, but I don’t really know exactly what you’re talking about.