“The American Scholar”  by Ralph Waldo Emerson depicts the ideology of nature being the essence of life. I agree with many of Emerson’s points about the value of nature and how it is essential to a man. Emerson’s views about education, books, and school are quite intriguing. One line that I found quite interesting was when Emerson said “Hence, instead of Man Thinking, we have the bookworm.” (Emerson, 3) Basically, Emerson implies that people are too much into books and not much into the outside world. According to Emerson, people believe that the only way to learn and grow is to read books. However, Emerson does find books to be very useful. Books are the “best type of the influence of the past.” (Emerson, 2). According to Emerson, books help people learn about the past and is a great source of knowledge.

Emerson and Rousseau have several similarities on their approach on education. Rousseau believes that there is a proper path to take for a person to successfully develop, mature, and learn. Rousseau also says that people get influenced by society if they don’t develop the right way. Rousseau wants children to experience their childhood with nature and slowly develop into a thinker in the adolescence age to refrain from being corrupt. Emerson’s points also relate to being a thinker while experiencing nature.

Locke and Emerson share the idea that books and knowledge are essential in learning however aren’t the only way to learn. Locke’s emphasis on “sensations” and “reflections” are a major reason why he feels that experience is necessary in gaining knowledge. Emerson says “Success treads on every right step.” He also argues that success is not just attained from books, however, also can be gained from nature and experience. He believes that people can become free thinkers by developing through nature and not just books.