Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Empirical Knowledge and Transcendental Experience through the Prism of Life and Intuition: A Phenomenological Reading

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Professor of English Literature, College of Literature and Languages, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran.

2 PhD in English Literature, College of Literature and Languages, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran. Iran

Abstract

This study explores the analogy between Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Transcendentalism and his mystical experience through a phenomenological lens, emphasizing cross-cultural cognitive dimensions and their impact on the concept of universality. The research addresses the contemporary relevance of this analogy in an era marked by scientific advancements that, while clarifying many misconceptions, fail to provide existential reassurance or answer all human inquiries. This reflective inquiry seeks to understand reality and the rational linkage of events by engaging with life’s forces, which are integral to human wonderment. The methodology involves a comparative analysis of Emerson’s themes of intuition, light and knowledge alongside Tymieniecka’s Phenomenology of Life. This approach highlights phenomenology’s potential as a cognitive-rational project that engages with mysticism to interrogate cognition and intuition, The study does not aim to offer practical solutions but rather provides a philosophical account of intuition’s role in human experience, addressing fundamental challenges at their core. Significantly, this research contributes to broader comparative studies by examining mystical experiences within textual evidence without succumbing to empirical biases. The findings suggest that Emerson’s mystical experiences, when analyzed through his themes of light, intuition and knowledge, align with phenomenological signification on an intuitive basis. Emerson’s Transcendentalism reflects life’s ontopoietic dynamism, perceiving universal structures akin to eidetic intuition essential for mental functionality. This study underscores the philosophical potential inherent in merging transcendental thought with phenomenological inquiry, offering new insights into understanding universality across literary contexts.

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References

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  • Receive Date: 07 September 2024
  • Revise Date: 05 February 2025
  • Accept Date: 10 March 2025

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