Friday night in a small chapel downtown, associate professor of philosophy John Lysaker held a lecture and open discussion about the poetry of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Emerson, one of the premier studied figures in American literature, was part of the mid-nineteenth century literary movement called Transcendentalism. His contemporaries include Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller and Walt Whitman.
The lecture examined Emerson’s writings as thought-provoking works intended to aid in spiritual development. Because he gives incomplete thoughts through his literature, readers are expected to take on the ideas for themselves.
Emerson does not write in a doctrine form, merely presenting the facts. His style of writing includes his own self-discovery. In his text, Lysaker said, one can note the “live thought” and observe Emerson’s encounter with himself.
Lysaker advocates for active reading of the text instead of putting effort into mastering the material.
“Reading is a two-way street,” Lysaker said. “We allow the text to read us as we read the text.”
This can be difficult because it challenges readers to struggle with themselves and face their largest biases. From this struggle, readers are forced to learn more about themselves and become more spiritually enlightened.
Explaining his reasons for giving the lecture, Lysaker said, “I do this for three reasons. One, because Emerson was a public lecturer and it’s an important part of teaching. Two, because people are interested and I feel that it really resonates. My third and more important reason is to engage the University with the community.”
Jeff Simons, a substitute teacher for the Eugene/Springfield area, attended to aid in his understanding of Emerson. As a former American History teacher, he finds Emerson to be not only immensely important to the literature of the era, but also to the historical framework of the time period.
“It was really a worthwhile investment of time,” Simons said. “Emerson is (an) important American figure that created a radical change of thought during his time.”
Simons also came to the event to find out if he was an “Emersonian.” He said that, “I feel that as a teacher I have a lot in common with Emerson and the intent behind his writing.”
Among the many teachers and adult community members present Friday evening was University student Joel Reynolds, a philosophy major who works closely with Lysaker.
He expressed his enjoyment of the lecture, saying, “It was interesting to see John in a non-academic setting. He did an amazing job in making the information palatable for the audience.”