Henry David Thoreau: a Philosophical Reflection Essay

Henry David Thoreau was an inexhaustible writer that encompassed poetry and philosophy within his narratives and created a style of writing that, for his time, was difficult to define and categorize. Because of this his works were often overlooked for the genius that was held within them as writers of his time had already begun to stray from the traditional stances of philosophy. However, one can easily survey the works of Henry David Thoreau and do so with an immense amount of appreciation for his keen ability to contemplate and delve into the varied psyches and perspectives that man holds. And despite the difficulties in categorization it cannot be denied that Thoreau’s works were powerful and filled with brilliance. Thoreau wrote from a contemplative platform. He was not one who was frightened by solitude. Coined often as saying, â€Å"As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness, weakness. † He passionately held to the understanding that in order to embrace all the wonder and beauty that the world holds we as a people needed to slow down, to observe our surroundings and embrace all that is before us. And sometimes in order to do that, more often in order to do that, one needed to disconnect and detach from distractions and things that skewed one’s vision in order to do so. Thoreau held to the belief that, â€Å"our limited view often keeps us from appreciating the harmonious interdependence of all parts of the natural world: this is not due to â€Å"any confusion or irregularity in nature,† but because of our own incomplete knowledge. † This was just one of many excerpts taken from Thoreau’s work, Walden, that expressed his elief that we have so much to gain by embracing more than our own perspectives as a singular perspective only sees from one vantage point. This particular work of Thoreau’s, Walden, really highlighted his fusion of philosophy and poetry amidst a presented narrative. And as previously mentioned, while it made it hard to categorize, Thoreau did gain notoriety for its content and his literary prowess. Thoreau was a Harvard graduate. He was a student of ancient scripture as well as one who studied literature containing Asian wisdoms and traditions. He was well versed and enjoyed covering a broad spectrum of material. He enjoyed the philosophical perspectives of Locke and Coleridge as well as holding honor and respect for Emerson, despite their different outlooks at times. It was evident in his writings that he held a great value for nature. He also found importance in seeking out God in the midst of nature’s existence. Thoreau held to this belief not just as a mere perspective but as a life philosophy as well. The evidence of such was found in that many of his greatest writings came when silence stilled the atmosphere and he was able to enter into the beauty that the earth around him held. After all it was his belief that beauty was more than just in the eye of the beholder but was actually held within one, a beholder, who was able to first perceive it. Thoreau brilliantly described his viewpoints in his explorations of human perspectives and challenged individuals to see beyond the mere surface of things. We see this demonstrated in the expression of his story, Walden. He was out in the woods, far from any other individual for two years and two months. During that time, he became one with nature in a way he found difficult to do amongst the bustling of a busy city. He provided for himself through his work laboring the land and as he was secluded in this place he was able to gain a deeper perspective of life through his silent contemplations of the life that surrounded him. It wasn’t loud, crowded and crazy, filled with opinions and demands. The wilderness provided a contemplative canvas of beauty where every possibility could be considered without the rude interruptions that often come with man’s agenda. In the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy it was aptly conveyed that one of the greatest attributes or virtues of Thoreau’s writings was awareness. Thoreau had a talent for drawing his reader’s into a greater understanding of things they were not first nature to them and causing them to ponder, reflect and evaluate life in a deeper manner. Life is more than what it first appears and that in the embrace of simplicity one can begin to see and behold all that there is beyond what merely man has created himself, this was a message of great importance to Thoreau. Henry David was also an agent of change. In arousing individuals to embrace greater perspectives of life philosophies he compelled them further to change the way that they approached life. His belief was this, â€Å"We need to cherish and nurture our capability to discern the difference between the idea and reality, between what is and what ought to be. It is when we experience dissatisfaction with ourselves or with external circumstances that we are stimulated to act in the interest of making things better. † If we strive to uphold a certain value but are not actively doing things that promote our values or beliefs then there is a chasm between what is and what should be and Thoreau was not shy about addressing this issue in his writings. Ultimately Henry David Thoreau was an inspirational writer who spurred his readers on to seek out and explore a life with deeper meaning. He admonished small thinking and in the same breath imparted a sense of hope and expectation in portraying that there was more to the world than meets the eye. It was just simply in the eye of the beholder to not only see it but perceive it. This thought was brilliantly encapsulated within a timeless quote credited to Henry David Thoreau when stated, â€Å"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us. † If one believes, all things are possible.