This is where the bulk of the literature of "'St.Ralph, the Optimist'" comes into play (McMichael 807). His concentration revolved around the science of the Soul as it applies to Social philosophy. Through this perspective of a person's role in the order of society, Emerson espoused his own

Nature was published in 1836 and contains in it the fundamental basis for Emerson's Metaphysical/Epistemological approach. The opening poem is a puzzle riddled with clues as to the proceeding pages of the book. He proclaims that Nature is "[a] subtle chain of countless rings [t]he next unto the farthest brings" (Emerson 808). This line means that everything is contiguous and interwoven, and all matter is relative only to the form or shape we perceive it to be in at this particular moment. It eludes to the notion of an infinite circular evolution in the natural world that most often goes unrecognized or questioned. To emphasize his point further, Emerson reiterates this circular evolution and elicits an image much closer to home when he says "And, striving to be man, the worm [m]ounts through all the spires of form"(808). He knocks the human race down a few rungs on the evolutionary ladder by connecting the aspiration of the worm becoming man and in the same breath commands respect for Nature's omnipotence. The illustration appears to have imbued the Buddhist belief in reincarnation of the spirit into his theory. Yet, in a Neo-Platonic fashion Emerson employs a metaphysical conceit to portray his concept of reality. With an economy of words, the thread of unity is sewn through Nature to weave together this inherent duality. This image is only the beginning of his Metaphysical/Epistemological maze. The introductory page contains more clues useful in deciphering Emerson's encrypted enigma.

To gain a refined insight into this proclamation, excerpts from Emerson's Essays:First Series illuminates his transcendent destination. In the essay "Circles" a key point is magnified. He utilizes a progressive gradation of metaphors in the opening lines to draw a parallel of circles from man to Nature and then ultimately intertwines "the nature of God as a circle whose center was everywhere and its circumference is nowhere"(Emerson 158). Again, the course repetitiously circumnavigates through Nature and a 'Higher Power' back to man which consequently is the genesis and exodus all of speculation. Yet, to alter the point of convergence to Emerson's Epistemology we need only travel a few paragraphs further for the master link. If we combine the premise that "The key to every man is his thought" from "Circles" with the notion that "[i]n proportion to the energy of his thought and will, he takes up the world into himself" from Nature , we can derive "the analogy that marries Matter and Mind"(Emerson 159; Emerson 814, 821). The latent power of such a union is detailed in his monumental essay "The Over-Soul."

Before proceeding further, we need to return to one of Emerson's Romantic contemporaries to observe the synthesis of this influence. S.T. Coleridge, in his Aids To Reflection stated that "Reason is the power of universal and necessary convictions, the source of truths above sense, and having their evidence in themselves" (Coleridge 536). This "Reason" had a resounding impact on the course of action Emerson proposes, but the influence is based on rejection rather than acceptance. He rejects it because the traditional meaning of Reason often relate

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)