 |
| Cemetery in Monroe County |
Of all the books Nietzsche read the most, Emerson's "topped the list." (Op. cit., K 352) "It was Emerson who first instructed Nietzsche about the joys and terrors of the intellectual life without firm land beneath one’s feet, of life on the open waters of indeterminacy without compass or guide." (Ib., K 356-358)
Nietzsche saw himself as a solitary thinker, and found a companion in Emerson. Emersonian images find their way into Nietzsche's work. "Emerson bathed Nietzsche in images of the intellectual life as life on the open sea, as circles of waves emanating outward from the active intellect." (Kindle Locations 350-351). Here we have Nietzsche the nihilist sailing alone on a sea with an infinite horizon, with no land in sight. The true thinker has left the former land of Judeo-Christian theism and sails the open waters alone, charting his own way since the map, the compass, is now useless. "For Nietzsche, Emerson provided an image of the philosopher willing to go it alone without inherited faith, without institutional affiliation, without rock or refuge for his truth claims." (Kindle Locations 399-401)
As Charles Gray Shaw once wrote, "we Americans have our Emerson; why, then, should we dote on Nietzsche?" (Kindle Location 462) Nietzsche was greatly influenced by Emerson the American. Nietzsche was largely neglected in Europe during his lifetime, but began to have influence in America. Ratner-Rosenhagen's book describes the history of that influence. I've been influenced by Nietzsche, too. I asked for her book for my birthday. I got it today and have begun the read. Even though I am a theist, not an atheist, I've long felt that, were I an atheist, Nietzsche would be my guide, since he is guide to the guideless in a world without purpose and without a compass since (were atheism true) we're not going anywhere.
