Saturnalia or excess of faith; the presentiment of a faith proper to man in his integrity, excessive only when his imperfect obedience hinders the satisfaction of his wish? Nature is transcendental, exists primarily, necessarily, ever works and advances, yet takes no thought for the morrow. Man owns the dignity of the life which throbs around him, in chemistry, and tree, and animal, and in the involuntary functions of his own body; yet he is balked when he tries to fling himself into this enchanged circle, where all is done without degradation" (Emerson 103). This reflects his own reaction against Unitarianism and the growth of 19th century rationalism in New England. He was also demonstrating his opposition to the progression of 19th century capitalism.
Another important philosophy expressed by Emerson is contained in "Nature:" "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society. I am not solitary whilst I read and write though nobody is with me. But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars" (Emerson 180). He felt that the best sort of a solitude, suitable for philosophical contemplation, comes to man when he is alone with nature; that man draw insight, inspiration and ultimate truth from the "integrity of impression made by manifold natural objects" (Bradley, et al. 1268). In "Nature," Emerson also expresses that Nature is made to conspire with spirit to emancipate us. Emerson believed if a man is complete, at union, within himself, he does not need other people, past institutions, laws, customs, travel, books, ideals, to be happy. He can be content and in fact a great man if he is one with nature and is self reliant. And, through this isolation, of his s
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