Ralph Waldo Emerson and
My Leadership Vision
In order to compose my leadership vision, I studied the works and ideas of Ralph Waldo Emerson. He is an important role model for me because of his literary contributions and his pivotal role in creating the Transcendental movement during the early- to mid-nineteenth century. Incorporating EmersonÕs main ideas about the individual and society into my own life will help me to become a well-rounded leader in any situation I encounter. Ralph Waldo EmersonÕs youth and education influenced the ideas of the Transcendentalists and played an important role in all of his essays, speeches, and poetry.
Portrait of Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Ralph
Waldo EmersonÕs youth greatly influenced his later life and the leader that he
eventually became. RalphÕs father was a Unitarian minister, and Ralph initially
studied to follow in his fatherÕs footsteps. At fourteen years old, Ralph began a higher education at
Harvard University and held his first leadership position as the freshman student body president. After his time at the University, Ralph
became the pastor at the Second Unitarian Church in Boston, but soon left the
ministry because he lost interest in the rites of Communion. This crisis of faith led Ralph to
explore the spirituality of the individual and allowed him to critique
traditional religious [1]
views in order to form his own theories about life. Hindu and Buddhist poetry greatly influenced RalphÕs early
writing, and a botanical exhibition in Paris inspired him to live as a
Naturalist. One of his greatest
literary influences came from the German Higher Critics, a group of three
German men who analyzed historical records in search of independent
confirmation of the events described in the Bible. These sources and other
classical philosophers led to RalphÕs future as a leader in the Transcendental
movement.
Portrait of Herman Melville
Emerson
collaborated with other influential thinkers of his time such as Herman
Melville (pictured above-left), Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson (pictured
above-right), Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Henry David Thoreau to form the basic
concepts surrounding Transcendentalism.
Ralph felt that the United States was in dire need of literary
independence from Europe, and led the way to a whole new type of writing and
thinking to create the genre of American Literature. The main impetus of this revolution was a Ôreaction against
eighteenth century rationalism, the skeptical philosophy of [John] Locke, and
the confining religious orthodoxy of New England Calvinism.Õ[4]
Emerson joined forces with Margaret Fuller, a fellow Transcendentalist, to 
create
The Dial; a revolutionary newspaper [5]
created for literary criticism and the spread of new ideas about philosophy and
religion. While it only lasted four years, the journal successfully spread
their ideas throughout much of Massachusetts. The idea of Transcendentalism expressed in the newspaper and
in other writings encompasses many premises and ideas, but the main ideas can
be narrowed down to the following four tenets; the individual is the center of
the universe, the structure of the universe duplicates the structure of the
individual, nature is symbolic, and virtue and happiness depend on
self-realization. The Transcendentalists
also used these concepts to become leaders in other social reform movements
such as anti-slavery and womenÕs rights, and to inspire individual thought and
personal motivation in the American people. Although there are many literary contributors to
Transcendentalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson is credited as the main catalyst of the
movement and inspired many others to continue and expand upon his work. If I had to pick one idea to generalize
EmersonÕs philosophy, it would be that ÔTranscendentalists believe in
miraclesÉin inspiration, and in ecstasy.Õ[6]
Emerson; Essays and Lectures
For
my own life, the most inspirational aspect of EmersonÕs accomplishments is his
literary contributions. His
thoughts on individualism, self worth, integrity, and hard work can benefit the
individual of today and of all future generations. His lecture on the American Scholar and his essay titled
ÔRepresentative MenÕ gives practical advice on how to advance in life and
describes what makes a successful person.
Emerson applauds the Scholar for the bravery they must exhibit to deal
with ideas and warns the Scholar to remain independent in [7] his thinking
and judgment. Plato, Swedenburg, Montagaine, Shakespeare, Napoleon, and
Goethe are included in ÒRepresentative MenÓ as examples of heroes who Ônever shut their eyes.Õ[8] Emerson looks up to these men because they were always thinking about the society and their place in the world. I think it is extremely important to not only study our own role models, but also the people who influenced their accomplishments. EmersonÕs appreciation of Plato and Goethe further inspires me to become a leader, and displays the importance of drawing on past heroes to help formulate my own ideas. Much like Emerson did, I want to use a compilation of role models to create my own identity as a leader. It is very important to me to keep a role model whose ideas come from a diverse background, as that is how I would like to form my own opinions. The group of people that I plan to look to for guidance includes Emerson, Victoria Woodhull, Bobby Kennedy, Winston Churchill, Buddha, and Betty Friedan.
Ralph Waldo Emerson also relays important thoughts about individual success in his essay ÔHeroism.Õ He makes the bold observation that ÔHeroism works in contradiction to the voice of mankind.Õ[9] It is important to realize that the right choice is usually not the common one. Emerson makes it clear that a hero cannot be common; a hero must fight when no one else will and must not fear the reality of rejection. To become a leader I have to learn from EmersonÕs essay; leaders are rarely popular in the beginning of their career; most celebrated writers and artists were not praised for their contributions until after they died. The expectation of immediate success and acclaim would most likely lead to disappointment for any potential leader. However, becoming a leader should not occur because one wants approval. A person should seek leadership in order to benefit society.
Ralph addresses one of the most important aspects of a leader in his essay ÔSelf Reliance,Õ which I have read numerous times since my freshman year of high school. Emerson discusses the importance of self-reliance, self-reliance and the individual, and self-reliance in society. Many of EmersonÕs most famous lines come from this paper; my favorite is ÒFoolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.Ó[10] It reminds me that continuing to think in the same way I have always thought will get me nowhere. In order to grow as a person and as a leader, I have to force myself to strain the way I view life and the people who surround me. I have recently begun to view the world differently through the use of Sympathetic Imagination. By attempting to see the world from someone elseÕs point of view, I am able to understand more completely how some people act and think. Using Sympathetic Imagination can be difficult because it is often impossible to identify with other peopleÕs backgrounds and cultures if I had prior contact with them. However, even the endeavor to appreciate where other people come from breaks up the foolish consistency that often takes over my mind. Emerson also stresses the importance of refusing to conform to the standards of the current times: ÒWhoso would be a man must be a nonconformist.Ó[11] Although conformity is easy, it is the people who choose to be different and to stand up for what is uncommon who are remembered after they are gone. To become a leader, I must strive to not sit idly by when I feel justice is not being served or when I feel that truth is being ignored.
In order to integrate what I have learned from Ralph Waldo Emerson into my leadership vision, I started by studying his writings. Now that I have a grasp on EmersonÕs life philosophies, I am able to select certain aspects of his ideas and fuse them with by own beliefs. For example, I do not particularly understand or agree with EmersonÕs belief of the immanence of God in the world. I appreciate the Transcendentalist view of God encompassing all aspects of the world, thus bridging the individual to nature. However, I do not accept this idea as my own and I do not include much spirituality in my leadership vision. Although I am not sure what I want to do with my life, I do know that I want to be a leader in whatever path I take. Therefore, my leadership vision must Òincorporate my dreams and passionsÉbe authentic and true to (my) realities...and continue to evolve.Ó[12]
The time I have spent studying Emerson has inspired me to continue researching other potential role models to help me evolve my leadership vision. It is important to me to widen my intellect and to incorporate more people and ideas into my own life. I think it would be extremely narrow-minded to find just one role model and base my entire vision on that person; Ralph Emerson understood this and drew his inspiration from scholars, philosophers, artwork, and nature. I find inspiration in the written word, in the natural and physical environment (The Eiffel Tower), in history, in art (Venus De Milo), and in my hopes for the future. I plan to continue developing my personal vision into leadership roles so that I can become an effective, contributing member of society
Venus de Milo, The Louvre The Eiffel Tower, Paris
[13]
The Eiffel Tower, Paris
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