Emerson argues that “Traveling is a fool’s paradise.” He says that one should not travel around to the world “with the hope of finding somewhat greater than he knows.” He believes that all the wisdom people need can be found through experiencing the world right around us more deeply and fully rather than traveling to far off lands. He points out that if he leaves his home in order to escape the sadness he feels inside he will find in far away lands “the stern fact, the sad self, unrelenting, identical that I fled from.” Do you agree with the transcendentalists that all the wisdom a person needs can be accessed right now where we are, or does an educated person need to see the world to really understand?
“Traveling is a fool’s paradise.” Is he saying the journey isn't enjoyable?
ReplyDeleteI think Emerson makes a good point that traveling cannot free you from yourself, because no matter where you go, you will always be there. However I think that traveling does generate thoughts and understanding of people who we ordinarely wouldn't have thought of.
ReplyDeleteI think that he means that you shoulden't travel to solve your own problems. I think it goes along with what Emerson was talking about in "Self Reliance."
ReplyDelete-ViciousTrollup
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ReplyDelete- Yellow Rose
I would love to travel the world, because I want to see things. I want to more deeply understand the world I live in as a whole, because in my life the whole is more important than the little things. Travelling expands knowledge, it doesn't escape emotion.
ReplyDeleteI most definitely disagree. When somethings going wrong in my life, it's necessary for me to 'get away'. Rather that be a drive around town where i haven't explored, or going to another state. Being physically away from the actual situation can help me take a step back and examine it on my terms; not just having it blown up in my face every day.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much to see, why would anyone ever WANT to stay in the same place?
-cheers
I think it's insightful to say that happiness will not be found just because you travel to some far away place. In society I think we romanticize different places so much that sometimes we are dissapointed when we actually go. Travel can however help to learn of new cultures and gain new experiences in my opinion and is still valuable. Orangutan
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with Emerson because traveling opens up an individuals eyes. Traveling is what allows people to understand one another and to familiarize themselves with other cultures and people. Traveling is the base of education and if more people traveled rather then stay in the same country and assume they know everything there would be less conflict in the world
ReplyDelete-laxchickie
I think that there's something to be said about how everything catches up to you. That you can't run from your problems or feelings. So I agree with Emerson that no matter where you go, you won't be able to escape the same problems you had where you once were. But at the same time traveling generates new ideas and new thoughts because you're experiencing new things. -iloveorange52
ReplyDeleteIT'S CALLED GOOGLE! Just kidding, but seriously. My views are that it truely depends on what you are trying to learn. Emerson is arguing that all you will ever need to learn comes from that emotional peace that is achieved between a man's inner-self and nature. Not reading beyond simply the words he has written it is easy to argue that it is important to travel to understand the world around us. However, if everyman looked to find their inner peace, and reached down to their core, we would all understand eachother on an emotional level.
ReplyDelete-Dat Ca Iz Tow Up
Traveling in no way would hinder someone from finding their "true self" as transcendentalists believe. I think in order to form a cohesive opinion and knowledge basis of the world you cannot just observe whats around you. While it is one of the most important things to observe since it is the environment that affects a person the most if they dont branch out to study or visit places beyond thier normal realm then they will be severly lacking in knowledge of humans and the way that environment affects them.
ReplyDeletePeopel have to be careful when they travel though. The idea of traveling is to educate yourself on a new place and experiance that place, it's not to escape your world or yourself. The poeple that try to run away from their problems adn think that it will help will only temporarily find an excuses to say they are happy. It's important to travel...but for the right reasons.
ReplyDelete-laxchickie
I think people CAN "find themselves" through traveling. Like missions trip or going into third world countries. It really gets people to think and see things differently. I think it just depends on your motivation and what you expect or want to find.
ReplyDelete- Zaphod Beeblebrox
I really disagree with Emerson's point on this. I don't think you can travel the world to find yourself, but I definitely think traveling changes you. I feel that to really understand the world, you have to experience it as much as possible. Sure, you can read about the starving children in Africa, but is that going to have the same impact as going to Africa and seeing them, hearing them, helping them?
ReplyDeleteUp and Over
You should travel when you are content with your life and want to learn more about the other parts of the world. You should never try to fix your life by traveling. So in that way I agree with the transcendentalist but I think that there is no way you can know everything with out experiencing it.
ReplyDeleteAnita Goodman
I would have to agree half way. If you travel away from home to get away from something, sure it will get you away from the problem, just like taking a walk after you fight with your parents, but when you go home the problem will still be there when you get back unless solved. And i think traveling is an experience that everyone should have. It teaches people about different cultures and through that you can better educate yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhile it is important to learn from listening to yourself it doesn't mean you should learn from traveling and seeing the world. A person who lives in the same place all their life and never leaves might have deep personal understaning but they won't have experienced as much as someone who has traveled to foreign countries and experienced different types of people and culture.
ReplyDeleteHasty "G"
Anita Goodman-
ReplyDeleteI completely disagree with you about traveling away from your problems. While you shouldn't run away from your problems, it is sometimes good to get away when your emotions might get the best of you.
-asmigelsky
Traveling has the potential to put peoples lives into perspective, but if you are traveling within the comforts of western society all you are gaining is new aesthetics. For example visiting england rather than egypt.
ReplyDelete-leo
I think people need to travel in order to experience the world and become an educated individual. If someone doesn't travel around the world and experience multiple cultures and different surroundings (other than their own), then they may be shorted many opportunities and be less aware. There's so much history that has been formed throughout the world, but it can only be viewed and experienced first hand if a person is willing to travel the distance to go there.
ReplyDelete~FlowerPower
I hear it all the time. "I just can't wait to get out of this town." "As soon as I get out of here it will be different." And then people move to a different town and they bring all their problems with them and it doesn't change anything. Emerson was right, if you ain't happy here you won't be happy anywhere else either.
ReplyDeletePhaedrus
I don't think that traveling will solve your problems, because it is really just running away from them, but I think that travelling will give you a better, broader look at them, and it will give you the ability to find different solutions. I agree with Up and Over- you can't find yourself by traceling, but you can for sure change yourself..
ReplyDelete-*67
I also think that traveling can help one find oneself. When remaining in one place, knowing it deeply, of course one can find oneself, but traveling can serve the purpose of "opening the eyes" to incidents both afar and at home. It broadens perspective.
ReplyDeleteFord Prefect
Traveling is something everyone should do whenever they get the chance even if it is only walking down a new street or threw a new meadow. Seeing the world is something we all need to do, you gain knowledgde about the huge world we have to explore. We have one short life, why spend it doing the same old crap every day, each day should have something new and exciting or you have wasted your life, sure one can be alive and breathe and live each day but unless the truly look forward to each day then they aint truly alive and living, so get off you fanny have an adventure and go be active and LIVE!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree that traveling wont let you escape from your emotions but it is definitly capable of opening your mind to new ideas.
ReplyDeleteSue
"Life isn't about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself."
ReplyDeleteDo whatever is right for you. If thats staying in town, or the woods surrounding it, or traveling all over the world, DO IT. And live it up! You are constantly evolving by your choices, creating yourself. If you wanna create a cultured and experienced person, travel!
Medusa
Totally disagree with Emerson. I think traveling the world and experiencing different scenery, cultures, places, etc couldn't possibly hinder anything. I think these experiences help shape a person -- and can even help them find the truth. Not always, as I think it is different for every person. But I think restricting oneself from discovering different things in different places is really just limiting possibilities.
ReplyDeletelillipbaum
Sometimes it allows for you to escape emotions. You guys all should take psychology. It really puts things in a whole different perspective.
ReplyDeleteTraveling also exposes you to different cultures, ideas, ways of thinking, people- which in turn increases tolerance, understanding, knowledge.
ReplyDeleteAnd I think that is necessary for a well educated person to recognize- that we can learn from eachother and we can learn from our differences.
-jumping.lily
I agree with medusa completely. IF you think that you need to travel to get away, then do it. If you think that you need to stay where you are and face things, then do it. I'm not saying that you should run away from your problems, because yes, eventually they will catch up to you. However people should do what's best for them, and shouldn't be told not to travel because it shows weakness or anything.
ReplyDelete-Yellow Rose
The basic thing that Emerson argues here, I agree with. It's difficult to leave someone like yourself behind on a trip overseas. Certainly you can shape this person on your trip, but don't expect them to vanish while you're away from home.
ReplyDeleteFord Prefect
If you're 'running away from a problem', then you may be able to face it, just not in a personal way. I go to this camp every year called "Satir Family Camp", sounds like lame sauce i know, but it's basically a place to reconnect with yourself and face your problems your dealing with at home in a safe environment. Which is why i personally am in love with travel, because it gives me the opportunity to acknowledge the problem from a different location.
ReplyDeletehowever, leisure travel is just as wonderful:)
-cheers
to cheers-
ReplyDeleteand I think getting differnt peoples' perspectives on your problems is helpful too.
-jumping.lily
I agree with many of the posts others have put on here. THe fact is, no matter how far you travel, you will never escape yourself. But you can travel for other purposes. He says its foolish to travel, but i have to agree and disagree. If you travel just to escape and with no particular purpose, then its foolish. However, traveling can widen your perspectives and give you a better understanding of the entire world, not just the part you live in or have lived in throughout your life.
ReplyDelete