Monday, December 3, 2012

Emerson's Nature and Daniel Suelo

Please respond  to the first prompt and have your discussion for about 25 minutes for the Emerson reading. Then spend the last half of class discussing Daniel Suelo and the article.  I expect at least a solid papragraph. When you are finished, please ask a question(s). As you are writing, make sure to use specifics from the text to back up your responses and to keep questioning, challenging other people's thinking. I would like your relfection to talk not only about the text, but its application to contemporary society.

1.  Please write your favorite quote from the exerpts of Nature and analyze its significance. (What intrigues you about Emerson's perspective of nature and how humans (should) revere it?  How do you embrace or challenge these notions? 

2.  Spend the last 20 minutes discussing what you agree with and resist when it comes to Daniel Suelo's way of living (see article-"Moab Man...")?  How might his life teach us about how we live today and what we focus on and consume ourselves with?  Again, use specifics.

109 comments:

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  2. While Nature is full of good quotes, my favorite quote was, "I am not solitary while I read and write, though nobody is with me" (Emerson 219). I like this quote because it is contradicting, but in a way that is understandable and effective. The author is stating that while he may be physically alone and with no one else, he is mentally surrounded by others. However, the others he is referring to are in nature. They are the plants and trees and animals that keep him company. I like this quote because in a way, it symbolizes how he keeps his sanity while being alone for long periods of time. It intrigues me because Emerson is stating that humans should regard nature similar to other humans. I am in between on agreeing and disagreeing with this viewpoint. I agree that nature is alive and we should treat it well and everything like that, but not to the point of living physically alone with just nature.

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    1. Another demonstration of this connection is on the last page of the excerpt, "I am not alone and unacknowledged. They nod to me and I to [the vegetables]" (Emerson 221). He is saying that he and the vegetables acknowledge each other as he personifies nature. This quote started to make me question the narrators sanity, because this is the line that he crossed to the side which I disagree with.

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  3. "Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort all her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding all her perfection...The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected all the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood" (Emerson, 20) Ralph Waldo Emerson is reveling here in the beauty of nature. He speaks in some romantic ideals as well as those of a transcendental. Emerson, here is showing why nature is something to revel in. He shows why constant contact with nature is necessary for human growth. He talks about how the wisest man cannot understand nature. How nature confounds human knowledge. But, as he later states, a child is just as curious about it. The simplicity of nature is in its complexity. It enthralls humans as it delights us in the simple pleasures and confounds us with its complexity. Nature is simple, understood by the child, but also so complex it is beyond the human mind. That is the allure of nature. That is why humans love it. It reminds us of the simple life, but is still so complex it peaks our curiosity.

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  4. My favorite quote is, "The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other." It means that people who love nature have gained complete peace with themselves and people who have gained total peace therefore love nature. It says that nature is what gives us peace and helps us become more in tune with ourselves. We see today that people that are so focused on money are some of the most stressed out people around. If they just calmed down and went to live in a cave in MOAB, they would feel much more happy with themselves

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    1. Jack-
      I think the ideals that Emerson stands for are not that the world is all bad. I don't think he wants us to become cavemen (literally). Instead, we need more contact with nature. Nature must be a driving force for good in the world. As Emerson says we should, "retained the spirit of infancy even into manhood." We need to be simple in our lives but not detached. The transcendentalists were not hermits, but reformers. They strived to make our current world better.

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  5. My Favorite quote in Emereson's "Nature" is the sentence used to start the third paragraph on the second page. "To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. most persons do not see the sun. at least they have a very superficial seeing". I think this quote really connects back to our discussion of the sublime and also industrialism. Emereson uses this quote to touch upon how so many people in our day an age are so distracted by material possessions, work, and a variety of other things and we are so distracted by these things that some even consider priorities that very often we fail to see the true beauty in nature. Emereson's use of this quote shows romanticism and also serves as his transition into the discussion of transcendentalism and how our world is becoming so lost in obsession with material possessions and other items which are considered to boost status.

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    1. When I read this quote, I immediately thought of the "Polar Express" movie where only the children believe in Santa and when they stop believing there is no longer a Santa. What do you think writers and producers are meaning when they share this message? Why is it so important?

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  6. My favorite quote from Nature is “The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child”. In other words, only one who is as open as a child can receive the deep truths that are revealed about oneself through nature. This quote is significant because it reflects the Transcendentalist idea of living simply by using the contrast of “man” and “child” to show that finding truths within oneself is only attainable by maintaining the innocence and easy joy of a child. The word “child” is also used to show the simplicity of a childlike life. Then, once one achieves childlike simplicity, one can recognize the true magnificence of nature and find truths within oneself that only the heart knows. By living close to nature one finds the simple truths of one’s heart and develops strong individualism based on those truths.

    Humans should receive these notions by recognizing the value of simplicity because living a simple, innocent life reveals deep truths that lead the way to a happy life and strong individual. Suelo figured this out when he chose to live a simple life close to nature and found the truths about happiness. A friend of Suelo said that "He is truly the happiest person I have met". I embrace this idea because I believe that one does not need materials to be happy. I am my happiness when I am simply camping, and see a sunset or mountain view that makes me feel deep happiness. I become a stronger person by embracing simplicity.

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    1. Bekah-
      I understand the view that money does not buy happiness, but do complete isolation bring it either? Suelo in my opinion is not a role model. He instead is a leech off society. The only reason his experiment works is because others have worked hard to provide the things he takes. If everyone lived as he did, then the world would not function. I don't think complete isolation is necessary for happiness. We shouldn't bring society to nature and have it disintegrate. Instead we should bring nature to society.

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  7. I really liked the quote "I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all." I really liked this quote because I can relate. Every time I've found myself alone in nature I've felt this way. It's almost like I'm dissolving into the Earth...as cheesy and weird as that sounds. It's a feeling of total and complete awareness. Awareness of not only the current and near surroundings, but what's beyond everything you see and hear. It's a true feeling of sublime and the true meaning of transcendentalism.

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    1. Taylor - I really agree with you. I feel the same way when I connect with nature. I get the feeling that I am very small- and that there is something greater than me out there. I think that Colorado's mountains also give this same effect one me because of there beauty and power that they show. I also love how I feel like I am one with the earth - it makes me special in a way to know that I make up one small part of our beautiful world.

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  8. My favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson's, Nature, excerpt is, "Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort all her secret". Emerson writes like nature is a person, using personification. He talks about how magnificent nature is. Nature is always pretty, clean, pure, and nice. The latter sentence of this quote shows a sense of romanticism. Emerson writes about the mystery nature holds, how not even the wises man can find all her secrets. This quotes sets the tone for the whole piece of literature.

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  9. The quote of mine shows that Emerson loves nature. He almost worships it. He believes that it helps us to become better and more peaceful human beings. I agree with this, but I think that we can also gain peace from things other than nature.

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    1. Where else would you gain peace that isn't at least based around nature? (Just curious on what you were thinking of)

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  10. Before reading this article, I assumed that Ralph Waldo Emerson was just the inspiration for Emerson glue bottles. I now realize what a truly magnificent person he really is. He prized many ideals that I would like to see more of in the world. On page 216, his biography says, "Emerson expressed, better than anyone before him, the advantages of a young land-it's freedom from the old, corrupt, and dying thought and customs of Europe; its access to higher laws directly through nature rather than indirectly through book and the teachings of the past; its energy; and its opportunity to reform the world." His ideas are so pure and good natured. He really showed me a new way to view the world around me. His story, "From Nature", really opened my eyes to how humankind is taking advantage in nature. On page 220 he says, "Nature never became a toy to a wise spirit. The flowers, the animals, the mountains, reflected all the wisdom of his best hour, as much as they had delighted the simplicity of his childhood." He mentions how nature is often used as a toy. I personally couldn't agree more. As humans we need to respect the land and work with it, not against it. We must work together if we wish to live in the world. Emerson showed me that we can no longer use the land to our advantage, but rather accept it for what it is, and we must become closer connected to what we had previously paved over and tossed aside.

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    1. Casey,
      I completely agree with you and I love the point that you made about how we need to work together to continue in this world, but my only question is how? How will humans and nature work together even though nature does not have a voice that humans can hear? It is hard to understand the "laws" nature because there is not really a Lorax running around the World telling every human that we need to work together and stop destroying nature. Our population is growing and sooner or later the world is going to have to decide which is more important, the human race or nature?

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  11. I found a very interesting quote on the last page of "Nature" It talks about the idea of the uncanny, and it is cool the connection drawn to Gothicism, " It takes me by surprise, and yet is not unknown" (Emerson 221). I like the fact that although Transcendentalism is a completely new theory of sorts, yet is still attached to older ideas, such as Gothicism. This idea of mystery, where it is known yet also unknown, the idea of the uncanny. This idea of uncanny connects very well with nature. Nature is something that we all know, but there will always be something to discover, something still unknown. Nature is uncanny, and Transcendentalism has many attributes that Gothics and Romantics hold close. "Moab Man..." can also be used to display this. In many ways Suelo, the focus of the article, could be considered a Romantic. He sees nature as the ultimate beauty, as something to be revered. Although the article looks at the Transcendental values that Suelo holds, I can see the links he has to Romanticism as well.

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    1. Emerson's work showed the reader how nature can be romantic, transcentdentalist, and uncanny. Can you think of anything else in this world is also all three of those? How come people can see all those characteristics in nature and not anything else?

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    2. How do you guys think Transcendentalism is different to
      Romanticism? Gothicism? How are they similar?

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    3. I think that Transcendentalism is most similar to Romanticism because they both focus on a simple life style. If you think about it, all of these ideas are similar because they give people something to focus on and guide them through life.

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    4. Andrew, I like the new aspect the uncanny brings to nature. Considering that we see it all around us every day, nature is very familiar to us, but I never think of it as strange. However, I can easily see how others would think in such a way, given the amount of danger and disaster nature can put us in, at will. Where does the boundary between the familiar, uncanny, and sinister emerge? How does your brain classify these 3 traits?

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    5. Melissa, I think that is the point of Transcendentalism. That nature is the only thing in the world that can be viewed as such. Then again, you can look at that quality of Romanticism which is seeing beauty in everything. This is the point where Romantics and Transcendentalists differ. Where ,in my opinion, Trans. only see nature as beauty while a Romantic can see everything as beautiful.

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  12. Sam-
    Your quote, "To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing" is very close to mine, "The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of the child”. However, we interpreted it a little differently because I saw the idea of an adult not being able to see the sun as the adult not being able to embrace the simplicity that leads to inner truth. But I really like your point that industrialism makes people too caught up on material items. It leads me to question...

    Is it possible to break the cycles of wanting more?

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    1. @Bekah I don't think it is possible to break the cycle of wanting more TODAY. I think that it undoubtedly was when humans were nomadic, but not today. The difference is that today, our whole economy surrounds around items that can be viewed as excess. When you think of the last 20 things you or your family purchased, many of those items will be items that are not needed to survive. When people were nomadic, they only wanted to survive and didn't have the room to carry any items that were not absolutely necessary. So again, today it is not possible to break the cycle of wanting more.

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    2. @Trevor Then again, look at the man Suelo from "Moab Man..." Someone who just woke up one day and decided he didn't need money. What is to stop anyone else from doing such a thing? I believe that we could break the cycle, but it won't happen. Look at Suelo again! He has broken the cycle, and pardon me, but he basically "mooches" off of society. It tells me that the population of the world wouldn't be able to do something like this, they need something else to sustain them.

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  13. My favorite quote from "Nature" written by Ralph Waldo Emerson "Nature always wears the colors of the spirit. To a man laboring under calamity, the heat of his own fire hath sadness in it," (Emerson, 221). Nature relates to everyone because there is no true way to analyze nature; therefore, the night sky causes a part of everyone's spirit to be established inside of nature. Everyone's interpretation is different and every different opinion matters. For example, the night sky can be a dark time for some, but it can also be a time for people to notice the stars that have always watched them but are invisible in the daytime because of the sun's light. "The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible," (Emerson, 220). The point that the stars make is that they are always watching us but through scientific reason, they can not be reached. So why do humans wish upon a star? The answer might be that stars are as constant in the night sky as airplanes, the only difference is that airplanes come back down to the Earth that we stand on, like reality while stars will continue to float in the sky forever. I think that people should dream or wish but they should not spend too much time in a dream world because reality will show itself soon enough, and through Emerson's life did he connect both intellectuals and the general public.

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    1. How do you think that Emerson came across his love for nature?

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    2. Anna-I think that he, like many, was doing something simple, like taking a walk, and realized what nature truly is to him.

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    3. Anna- I completely agree with what you had to say about your quote! The first quote you wrote about is the same quote that I wrote about, too! I was wondering, do you think that we as a society are products of our environment, or do you think that our environment is actually a product of us? How does this idea relate to what you mentioned about the stars and and how we can see them, but are never really able to completely understand them?

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  14. My favorite quote from the writing says, "The Stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible; but all natural object make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence." This quote impacted me because of the power that it displays. It shows that although humans are very complex creatures - nature still observes a higher power over us. I like how the quote says that the stars are always present, but we can't access them. I think that this is all the idea of believing in something that you can't necessarily see, but you feel. I think that Emerson is really trying to highlight the idea of believing in something bigger than yourself. When he also states that natural objects make impressions when the mind is open to influence, this made me really think our emotions and who we are is affected by our environment. Therefore, I think that Emerson's main idea is that we should surround ourselves in a peaceful anxiety (nature) so that we can truly fill our life with tranquility and not have to be persuaded by fear and worry.

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  15. Melissa-
    Your quote, "Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort all her secret" makes me think that Nature has an air of mystery, and is a source of joy. I love your close reading about personification. I think that the personification is used to show that everything in nature has a soul.

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  16. @ Melissa
    I completely agree. He talks about nature as if it were a true being. He respects it just as much as he would any other person. I love how he portrays nature as a thing of beauty and mystery. The way he writes about it just makes me feel like he really cares about what he puts out into the world.

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  17. From Ralph Waldo Emersons 'Nature'the quote "The sun illuminates only the eyes of a man, but shines into the eyes and heart of a child." spoke the most to me. To relate and understand nature you must be completely open to new things and experiences. As people grow they believe they have seen it all and stop trying to search for beauty, but children represtent the innocence in society. They still want to have those experiences that people before them have. They are open to all the new things out there and as they open up they are able to see the beauty in nature. This becomes a part of him. As the sunlight, the beauty, comes into him, he retains it and has it for a long time.

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  18. "The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence."
    This quote was my favorite because it captured the entire essence of his point. He shows the beauty of nature through the them always being present but inaccessible. This gave me the impression of nature being an unreachable, "transcended" being. I also am hit by the second part of the sentence, that nature in itself leaves a huge impact on humans, so long as they have an "open-mind". This really hits the idea of transcendentalism that you have to open up to the outside influences of nature and that those who have opened up are the ones who learn from the "kindred" nature.

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  19. I believe it is possible to break the cycle. You could just give up money for good and go off into nature like a monk, in order to make yourself better. You can find true happiness and contentment, just living off the land and owning nothing. This has been done by people for thousands of years: Monks of all religions, the MOAB man, etc...

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  20. Taylor-
    Your quote, "I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all" reminds me of my quote because it is describes discovering the deep truths about oneself that are shown through nature. Like you said, nature provokes awareness, of truth or the sublime or something bigger.

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  21. The quote that stood out to me in the short story Nature was, "One might think [the atmosphere was made transparent] with this design, to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime" (Emerson 219). This excerpt describes the blanket up emptiness that we live under yet the stars and the sky gives a feeling of closeness. This passage gives emphasis to the fact that the humbling feeling we get from the largeness of the unknown can perpetuate a sublime quality. It's not always a good thing to be informed by everything in the world because mystery is how we also discover ourselves. I thought it very intriguing that Emerson viewed nature as nature that "never wears a mean appearance" (Emerson 220). Nature can provide a nasty side of itself through natural disasters and the fact that we take advantage of nature through fracking and other projects, almost suggest that it nature will take a turn for herself. We as humans should leave nature to evolve and become something larger than life because I think that the quality of hiding something is intriguing just like The Minister's Black Veil. Must we learn to embrace everything the earth has to offer?

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  22. "I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all. The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God" (Emerson 221). Emerson conveys a feeling of humility and connection that a human being feels, or is supposed to feel, when in the presence of nature. Personally, I know I feel this sense of humility when I witness the grandeur of nature. It makes me respect and cherish what I have been given in my surroundings, a quality that I feel is rare in today's society. In our urban, busy, day to day lives, we seem to take the beauty of the world for granted. For this reason, I find it intriguing that this piece was written almost 200 years ago. Although the ideas of transcendentalism still exist, its meaning has been diminished by the new path society has taken into industrial and urban preferences. However, Emerson's quote still has just as strong a message as before, if not an even stronger one. This phenomenon is experienced by fewer people with every "progression" society makes, taking away even more from nature's spotlight.

    How often do you think about nature and its omniscient presence, and what sparks these thoughts?

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    1. I think that when I am alone in nature I tend to think about it more. Nature is so vast, so when I am in nature I am sparked by wonder. I like to ponder what else is out there and why nature is so much more powerful that humans. In Emerson's Nature he says, "...to give man, in the heavenly bodies, the perpetual presence of the sublime." He talks about sublime being perpetual in nature, which shows that there is always something greater than us as humans.

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  23. The quote that spoke the most to me was how Emerson talked about the purity and power of nature being seen clearly only by those who haven't been tainted by worldly greed, "To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature...At least they have a very superficial seeing. The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, but shines into the eye and the heart of a child...He whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other" (Emerson 220). Emerson centers his argument around the raw abundance, and uncanny aspects that mold together nature. The miracles that happen within it, and only with respect for what nature does can we use it sparingly. Emerson speaks about nature not being a resource to trifle with, and when in it, we can come back to not only youth; but the perpetual cycle in which a whole world has been able to prosper off of. "In the woods, is perpetual youth...In the woods, we return to reason and faith" (Emerson 221). Only by human touch are trees cut down for material, and seasonal decoration. That animals are skinned, and ecosystems destroyed. By coming back to nature, Emerson concludes that we not only open ourselves up to possibility- but the reality of the connection most people lose when reared. Nature is beautiful and pure without humans having to make something out of it. We don't realize how small we are compared to the cycle of what is around us, and only by coming back with humility into nature can we hope to regain a connection between self, and the rest of the world. Today, we as a society are always caught up in what we think "should be". We have ideals of what beauty and success are, often times our vague adaptations of these make out nature to be a dense monster- with potential only to become beautiful with modifications. We need to recognize that as time winds on, we will be gone in a heartbeat of time; yet nature will always survive on. Our time should be seeing the transcendentalist in all of us. Making value between our beings and what nature has to offer.

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  24. My favorite quote from Emerson's Nature is "The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood." The sentence before this describing the loss or disconnection between adults and nature, and their 'superficial seeing". That as humans and people grow up they no longer appreciate nature and the sublime qualities as much as children do. "The sun illuminates only the eye of the man, shines into the eye and the heart of th child". Emerson is illustrating that the innocence and and connectivity we as children have with nature is lost upon adults as they grow older and are no longer in-tune with nature as they focus their thoughts on other things have a more logical thinking. I embrace this thinking that in order to stay in-tune with nature we need to go back to those qualities that helped us as children. the wonder, and innocence that helped us appreciate more about the world and nature as children before we stated questioning everything, and our ideals started to reflect more on society, then on the more sublime qualities in life.

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  25. The passage in Emerson's story that intrigues me the most is when he says, "Standing on the bare ground-my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space-all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all" (Emerson 221). I find this excerpt fascinating because it reflects how nature has greater power over man, but the two can still coexist. This passage reveals how simplicity can be the key to bliss and happiness. When he says "I am nothing. I see all." he shows that man is nothing to nature, but man can obtain great insight to nature's wonders. I love that Emerson discusses this because I feel happy at peace when I am alone with nature.

    Why does nature have such a huge impact on humans? Why does nature hold the greater power?

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    1. I think it holds that power because there's so much unknown in nature. Not just unknown creatures, but how it all came to be (there's all sorts of contradiction on belief systems) and why it's so beautiful.

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  26. Throughout all of "Nature", Emerson projects a certain idea that our environment is a product of nature instead of the other way around. One of my favorite quotes in the entire short story says, "Nature always the color of the spirit," (Emerson 221). I truly think that it captures the whole essence of the paper in one sentence! Emerson is saying that nature is what we make of it. As society develops and changes over time, so does nature. It kind of changes with us. As society's qualities change, nature adapts to society. The interesting part about this quote is that I had always thought society was really the product of it's environment, not the other way around. Emerson is explaining that we cannot control nature completely and we just need to let it change as we do. There is nothing we can do about it, either. I think that it is true that we need to let nature run its own course and leave it alone. God has a set plan for us and for the world we live in. Maybe we should take a step back and look at where we're headed, instead of constantly trying to change the world as we know it into what we want it to be. We need to accept the fact that we can't just change who we are as humans. We have a direct effect on nature and and it the same effect on us. Throughout all of "Nature", Emerson tries to convince the reader that nature is like a giant poem and that only a poet knows the true beauty of nature and has the ability to describe it in the most intelligent way. That is where I say that aren't we all poets, then? We all perceive nature in a different light and that is what distinguishes us all, but unites us at the same time. We have to give up trying to change nature, and let it do its own thing.

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    1. My quote actually says, "Nature always wears the color of the spirit," (Emerson 221). Sorry!

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  27. Class-
    Page 221 says, "The currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God."

    How does Emerson's time as a preacher affect the idea of a higher being in nature? How is the idea of a higher power built from his religion?

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    1. While I don't know a lot about Unitarianism, my understanding is that it pretty closely resembles most other branches of Christianity. In the teachings of Christianity, God created the entire universe, and all that lives and exists within it. When Emerson looks at nature, he likely sees a reflection of God, and the beauty that He imagined for this world. I think Emerson sees nature as a reflection of God. In "Nature", he states, "Within these plantations of God, a decorum and sanctity reign, a perennial festival is dressed, and the guest sees not how he should tire of them in a thousand years. In the woods, we return to reason and faith" (Emerson 221). Emerson shows that God is in nature, and nature reflects the grace and purity of God. Emerson's religious training would have instilled the belief of a higher power into him, but love of nature and its beauty would have reminded him of the fact that God created nature, and that in nature, man can find God.

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  28. @ Anna
    I like some of what you're saying, but I feel that sometimes it's important to keep dreaming. People wish upon a star because it gives them hope for a better future. If they felt the need to wish for something, they weren't happy with the current situation they were it. Reality is too much to take in for a long period of time. Not everyone can stay rooted in reality all day. I feel that we should embrace both reality and unreality, because both play a role in who we are.

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  29. Anna-
    I think you really show why nature is so powerful. It delights each of us differently. That is how we find ourselves through it. I then would ask the class; is it possible to find beauty not in nature but the city. In the human wonders? Do these have the same power?

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  30. My favorite quote from Nature was the first sentence. "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber, as from society. I am not solitary while I read and write, though nobody is with me" I think that this quote is significant because it starts off the passage in a strong manner. By chamber, I think that Emerson was referring to the man needing to free him from himself. He explained that even when he is alone, he isn't really in solitude. This caused me to question how whether I am truly alone when I'm alone. Sometimes I have so many thoughts going through my head, that I'm not truly relaxed. It is hard for me to totally clear my mind. The main concept of transcendentalism is isolating oneself from society. I think this is a very solid concept, isolation causes people to think about and question their lives. This idea of transcendentalism emphasized from the start. Right from the beginning, the author clearly portrays what he will talk about.

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  31. My favorite quote from "Nature" by Ralph Waldo Emerson was "The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence. Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort all her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection" (Emerson 20). This quote shows that nature is complex, infinite, and full of beauty. Emerson uses romantic principles in his description of nature, he depicts nature and especially the stars, as something that man will never be able to completely understand, and that is why it is so beautiful. Man finds beauty in the mystery of nature, and the way that even if a person thinks he has found out all nature's secrets; there are still infinitely more to discover. Therein, man will never lose his fascination with the world he lives in, and nature's beauty and mystery will forever be the greatest on this earth. Even the wisest man will never fully understand it, however later, Emerson states that those who most appreciate and see the beauty of nature are children, or those who have retained their childlike qualities into adulthood. The children are the ones who can truly see the mystery and beauty that exists all around us, and in that way, they are best equipped to understand what they see. This reflects the idea that wisdom is not of a certain age, that any person can achieve great wisdom through observation and contemplation of the mysteries of nature.

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  32. "The stars awaken a certain reverence, because though always present, they are always inaccessible; but all natural objects make a kindred impression, when the mind is open to their influence," is my favorite quote from Nature by Emerson. I love that he is so open to the presents that nature can supply to us. Stars for instance do influence one to open their minds to what mother nature does let us enjoy. I personally take his visions of how humans should treat nature as something i need to include in my life and also something that i do add to my life. Nature to me is much more important to take care of and maintain than a reputation or a clean room.

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  33. Colleen-
    I think nature impacts humans so much because it is so big, beautiful, and unknown. I think of more of the romantic view, where nature is perfection made by a higher power. But like Emerson said, there must be a "harmony of both" humans and nature.

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  34. @Jack
    I think you would like to think we can break the cycle but there are always people who have developed into extreme consumers and would never trade in everything they one at a chance for living "off the land". What is the difference between being homeless and living off the land? Aren't we always trying to help the homeless, yet maybe the consumers are the ones that need help.

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  35. Sanjay,
    Lately nature has been playing more and more of a role in my life. Since we discussed and learned about the sublime and really analyzed how we are losing that I have been thinking about it a lot more. I think all these authors' predictions about how industrialization will bring what we know as sublime to an end are finally coming true. Looking outside every day and seeing no snow even though it's December 4th scares me and it really has been a spark to my thoughts about how these authors and their predictions were true and how the beauty of our world is quickly diminishing.

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  36. One of my favorite quotes is " To speak truly, few adult persons can see nature. Most persons do not see the sun. At least they have a very superficial seeing". I think that this quote is interesting because it talks about how adults can be surrounded by nature without really seeing its greater significance. Some people today live by the standard definitions of nature and things such as the sun. Many don't leave room for their own interpretation or beliefs, especially the experiences that can shape them as a person. For my ALIS book, I read the true story of Chris McCandless, who was for the most part a firm believer in transcendental ideas. I feel like this quote relates to this story because McCandless felt that people are not embracing the freedom of nature; he felt that people were missing out on true happiness and understanding because they got caught up in the materialistic ways of society. Few people take the risk of walking away from modern conveniences, but sometimes that is what it takes to break free of the "superficial seeing".

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  37. Class-
    Is Daniel Suelo a leech of society, or a classic role model that we should all follow?

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    1. I have mixed feelings about Suelo. Where in one part I see the quote, "Supermarket throwaways keep him well-fed" yet I also see the 'classic role model' view which comes as," he is a picture of contentment" This man is a leech, no doubt. He lives without money, but survives off of the hard work of others. Someone made that food, the supermarket purchased it, and threw it out. Indirectly, he is using money. However, I believe he can be viewed as a role model as well. The fact that he is so happy without a house, or material possessions, tells me that he can be looked up to.

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    2. Chase,
      I think that Suelo is a leech off of our society, but let alone he has started a society all of his own. He has learned how to survive in a way that is completely opposite of ours. I would not define him as a role model that we should all follow because where would we all be? We would be fighting bears, cougars and other wildlife for caves that the animals need to survive in their own habitat. Suelo takes advantage of things that humans easily discard of and I believe that he is resourceful but I would never want every citizen of America to jump ship and run to the mountains because all of the progress that America has made would be lost.

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  38. @Sanjay,

    Nature to me only sparks a omniscient presence when I feel belittled by what is around me. Or when I don't understand something that has been incorporated into nature that is so much bigger that what I feel, I could comprehend. We as humans fear the unknown, thus butchering a sense of being untouched that natural qualities represent. I feel that people think nature is harmful when they realize just how big of a gap there is between what nature represents, and what they can actually comprehend.Again, it brings up the fear of the uncanny- an unwillingness to accept there's more out there that we can see.

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  39. "To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society." Emerson accentuates the effect society has on a person. He says that to be able to get the full effect that nature can have, we need to separate ourselves from society. Emerson states that we need to leave certain luxuries behind and forget about the worries and the stress of the world. We need to forget the norms and rules and simply let yourself be completely free. Obviously, Emerson has a very romantic view on life. The problem is that if we all embraced this lifestyle, we as a species would devolve. Although it may benefit few groups of people, overall it would negatively affect the majority of society.

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  40. This man, whether he chooses to believe it, is a bum. He digs through the trash and lives in a cave. When it's too hot to live in his cave, he hichhikes and mooches off his friends. He says he does this because he is against money, but I think the real reason is because he cannot keep a job.

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  41. @ Class
    Personally, I was both baffled and curious as to Daniel Suelo's lifestyle. I was confused at first because I had no idea why he would choose to live like that. But then I came to realize that he is probably living a more fulfilled life than I ever will. He is a true man of the land, unlike most people today. He wastes not,and he manages to keep himself healthy and happy every day. Do you think he is living a full life? Or do you feel he is deprived in any way?

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    1. I think he is living a full life, and like you said, it's probably more fulfilling than ours will ever be. He doesn't need the fancy cars and diamond encrusted watches. He's OK with what the Earth has to offer, and I think that's amazing. Do you think it's possible in this day and age to live like that?

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    2. I think that he lives a full life, it's just full in a different way. He may be missing out on certain aspects of a normal life, but focuses on different things. I think that a person can live a full life as long as they want to. As long as that drive is there, they will not be deprived of anything.

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    3. Taylor- I think it is possible to live like this now, but I don't think anyone would. People have become so used to and reliant on technology and their things that I don't think anyone would be willing to give that all up to live like him.

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    4. I admire that because Suelo was unhappy with his life, he made a drastic change that brought him peace and happiness. He was brave enough to completely abandon his former life to embrace a way of living that many viewed as crazy.He isn't really bothered by the different opinions of his actions, so he is able to live the life he wants to live. His lifestyle is very unique, but it works for him.

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    5. I believe that he lives a full life. Maybe some people may not see his life as fulfilled because of the way we are taught to strive for the "American Dream" of having a good job and family and house. His story should teach us that not all Americans share the same dream and that we should respect other's dreams.

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  42. 1. I think my favorite quote in the whole story is the opening line,"To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society"(Emerson 212). Emerson is asserting here that for someone to truly be alone and with himself, he must indulge himself in nature. Emerson wants people to see that we need to be surrounded by nature to be ourselves. This quote really embodies the ideas of Transcendentalism, such as "Man an nature are inseparable. Human spirit is reflected in nature," (Transcendentalism hand-out). It shows that man and nature are much alike, and that man can only be himself and be one with his spirit if he is in nature, away from the distractions of society and everyday life.

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    1. This is the same quote that I used and I definitely agree with you. The next sentence explains that when he is alone writing, he still isn't at peace. And I think that nature is something that helps to clear a person's mind.

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  43. I personally really enjoyed "The Moab Man" just because it's so provoking and eye opening to our greed as man kind. We put ourselves in situations where we think money is the answer to everything, and, like said in the article "if we just had a little more money we'd be happy." Well, how much is a little more? The saying money can't buy happiness is absolutely true. I mean, yes, it's a lot nicer to cry yourself to sleep in a mansion every night and then drive to see your therapist in a Porsche the next day, but if we didn't even have that option, where would we be? We'd be truly happy and willing to help our neighbors. We'd be a closer knit, and more trustworthy community. Yeah, the guy digs around in trash cans for food and clothes, but it makes a statement, and one that I personally believe should be followed.

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  44. Though I think it is a good thing to live in and appreciate nature, I do not think we should give up on trying to improve ourselves. I do not have to dig through trash and eat roadkill to enjoy nature. But maybe we are too addicted to material possessions...

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    1. Would he have to dig through trash and eat road kill if everyone lived so simply? If we didn't even know about all the things we have (I-pods, computers, fast cars, big houses) then would we even care about the material possessions?

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  45. One thing that I agree with about Suelo's way of living is that it breaks the cycle of wanting more. He says that "We use all our energy to maintain our possessions, and it becomes an ugly cycle". Today, we are slaves to our iPhones and money and Starbucks. Suelo teaches us that reverting back to a simple life allows us to find true happiness because material happiness is artificial. We need to focus on joy based on other people and nature instead of artificial happiness found through materials.

    Is it possible to keep valuing material items but still honor simplicity and find true happiness?

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  46. In the description of Daniel Suelo's life, a controversial idea was brought up. This idea suggested that one can find happiness and peace if they live alone in nature, with out many of the luxuries we have today. I am not sure I agree with this. At one point in the article, the author shares that Suelo says that he doesn't have to deal with all of the stresses that come with money and bills and debt. However, further in the article, he went on to state that he sometimes scrounges around in trash cans looking for food. I immediately thought of the stress that would come from this, the knowing that you have to find food because you don't have money to buy some if you can't. I agree that he probably is a lot less stressed because he doesn't deal with money or bills or things of that nature, but he does have to deal with the stress that comes with finding food to SURVIVE. I guess I probably won't ever know which method of living is less stressful and more peaceful because I don't plan on living like the Moab Man, but at this point in my life, I can say that the stress of finding food to survive is greater than the stress that comes with money.

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    1. You bring up an interesting point. I never put it into perspective that either way, great stressed is forced upon someone. Humans have natural instincts to survive, but sometimes the panic that there might not be food could possibly overcome this instinct, which is definitely more stressful. In the article he says, "'I think taking things as they come naturally is the key to good health.'" It makes you wonder whether or not he is always healthy, because his lifestyle does not guarantee food and other necessities of life.

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  47. Jack- Is it possible to maintain progress (technology, modernism) while reverting back to a simple life in nature?

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  48. Class,
    The Moab Man, or Suelo, claims he has found the ideal lifestyle, a lifestyle that does not use money. To me it seems that he is, well, an over glorified homeless person. In my eyes his way of life may seem perfect on a small scale level but imagine if we all were to live like that? Even without money his ability to survive still is almost completely dependent on others and if many people were to start living like that then we soon would not be able to sustain them all. It almost seems selfish. Suelo does counter these points by saying it is a way of getting back in touch with nature and spirituality, which I agree with, but isn't there a better way to get back in touch with nature? I admire Suelo and his ability to have given up so much for what he loves, but how is he flawed? How is in the right? What do you think about this?

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    1. Sam- I completely agree with you! I think that what he is doing is great and all, but I think he is flawed in the way that he can't find a middle ground between being all about money and not having anything to do with money! There are ways to get in touch with nature, like you said, without getting rid of all forms of money. I do think, though, that is idea is a good way to open his eyes about how money really does control us, but maybe he should've just done the experiment for a little while, instead of choosing to spend the rest of his life living out of dumpsters!

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  49. Chase - I think that Suelo is a role model that should be followed. I admired a lot of his qualities such as his want to give away people's donations to him. If I was in his position, it would be very tempting to take free handouts. Suelo has multiple good characteristics. However, I think that he should only be followed to a certain extent. This isolated lifestyle isn't for everybody, and it could have different impacts on everyone.

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  50. @Chase
    From my perspective I would say that he is a leech in society just because I am one of the people that have to many materials but from a outward perspective, I think that he is a role model for what used to be and what has become of humans today. The only thing with his situation that I disagree with is the fact that he claims he is truly free and his depression has disappeared but he mentioned that "The occasional 'get a job' comments from friends, and family and readers... He says he has stopped worrying about what people think of him." Family is the most important thing to me is family and if I lost trust and love from them, I don't know if I would be happy.

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  51. Personally, in Daniel Suelo's way of living, I love and wish to embrace his way of life where he wastes nothing and he doesn't ask for handouts. He provides for himself and only wants to survive for himself. However, when he stated that he was a parasite of sorts, it struck me as something that I resist in life. I largely reject the idea of mooching off of society and where his lifestyle is based off of living off of the a society that is consumer dependent, I find this contradictory, despite what he says. I feel that in order to truly live independently, he needs to live off the land and the land only. Also, where he states he doesn't barter I strongly disagree with. When everyone is worried for themselves and themselves only, that creates a very separated society and when someone gains power or has the greed to pursue power over a society, the separation makes it all too easy for someone to take over.

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    1. Hunter, when we talk about an "every man for himself" society, I think that your point is very valid, but there would be consequences before hand. For example, Suelo himself has shown that he can't support himself completely, "Self-sufficiency isn't a goal in his moneyless life..." (Blevins). So, I do not think it is possible for the entire society to switch to his method, since there would be no liability that could support everyone.

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  52. @ Taylor
    One could interpret his lifestyle in many ways. But I really like how you said it. He sets an example, one that really should be followed. He shows us that we do not have to use money to buy happiness, and we certainly don't need all of our material possessions. He loves the life he lives, and I am so glad to see that he is happy with the life he has chosen.

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  53. Suelo strikes me as arrogant. He seems to snobbishly look down on all of us who work day after day to make a living. He makes fun of our way of life and even alludes that we are hypocritical. However, I find him hypocritical. Suelo says, "All I'm taking are a few crumbs falling from this opulent table." He freely admits here that he takes from those who have stuff. The "opulent" is who he takes from. Money bought the stuff he has. It might not be his money, but someone's. So, truly he hasn't escaped the system. He also claims to live without money, but all he has came from someone's money. Also, if everyone lived as him we'd all die. Not everyone can be a freeloader of society. If we all refused to buy stuff, where would the basic needs come from. The idea of a money-less, classless society is what communism is . It may sound bigoted, but Suelo is a kind of communist. We saw how the USSR fell to that ideology. It may sound good, but it never works.

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    1. I agree with you, but he does have some good points. Whether on not he is a hypocrite, he thinks that he is living a good life. "I want to be able to talk from my heart and live it too." He is living the life he wants to and I respect him for that.

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    2. I agree with the idea that if we all lived like him, we would die. In the article, it states, "Barter is another form of money, and Suelo doesn't deal with any form of currency" (Blevins 1). If we were to abolish any kind of paper/solid money, we would be reduced to bartering; but Suelo doesn't barter. Without any way of trade we would not be able to produce all the kinds of nutrients and objects that we require to live, like cooking tools, fruits, vegetables, grains, and other objects and food sources. Even if we all had our own farms, it would be impossible to grow all that we needed, especially in difficult climates and environments.

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    3. On the second page thought it talks about how Suelo is not judgmental of those who work and such. He, "bows to the generosity of others." I don't feel like he tries to push his lifestyle onto others either. However I do agree that not everyone can live like this because someone needs to buy the food, then throw away the food so people like Suelo can eat.

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  54. Trevor-
    I agree that the stress of finding food to survive would be greater than the stress of money. However, I think that he has less total stress. We have so much depending on how well we do in school, and maintaining a social life, so that our generation can make progress in the future. Suelo just lives in the moment and is happy with what he has.

    Is too much progress too fast a bad thing? Does it lead to always wanting more?

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    1. I think progress is important but it can move to fast. As new things are being created people are getting lost in it all. As soon as they have the newest most high tech thing it is quickly replaced by a better item. As more things are being made the more people want the newest and greatest thing.

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    2. I think that progress will always be a big part of the modern world, but I think it can be a bad thing because we don't stop to appreciate what we already have. It is always about the future, when sometimes it is important to live in the moment.

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  55. I thought that Daniel Suelo's way of life was extremely scary to me. I think that often I take what I have for granted and don't truly appreciate what I have. I don't think that I could ever attempt to do what he is doing. I think that I would be too afraid of how I would survive in a situation like he lives in. Without an everyday access to opening up the fridge whenever I want would be very hard because I rely so heavily on what I have and what I need to survive. I think that his story inspires, however, I think that it also saddens me because I wish that my focus could be more where Suelo's focus is one life. Suelo says, "I have no idea what the future holds, and I don't worry about it." I think that it takes a very strong person to be able to conquer the fear of the future. He also says, "I think taking things as they come naturally is the key to good health." I wonder how he doesn't worry so much about his health. I can barely comprehend what it would be like to live without knowing that I could walk myself into a doctor's office if I wasn't feeling well. I admire what Daniel Suelo does with his life, however I can't fathom the strive that pushed him to make this lifestyle choice.

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  56. When I read "Moab Man...," I couldn't help but notice that Suelo still depended on the workings of traditional society. Whether it was for food, clothing, etc., Suelo was able to get his possessions because of the fact that the normal society was forced to get rid of it, since it was not fit for their possession. "People don't realize how much perfectly good stuff is thrown away with just a blemish" (Blevins). The fact of the matter is, however, that these items are thrown away because customers expect the best quality products for their money. If everyone were to leave their monetary system behind, then all of these goods would be used, and Suelo himself would not be able to support himself. So, after I finished reading Suelo's story, I could only ask myself: How can everyone live a simple life, if even one person living this way must depend on so many facets of the capitalistic system?

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  57. Daniel Suelo lives definitely lives a controversial life. I have to say I like the idea of living off the land and not worrying about money, but I wouldn't be able to do it. Daniel Suelo says, "It's instinctual to live without money." I agree with this statement. From history, we know that the cave men did it, slowly humans changed into beings that had their lives revolve around money but that wasn't how it started out. I see the controversial points about how Suelo's, "rejection of money but depends on a society anchored in commerce" brings some people to be angry. However, nothing in this article irritates me, I like the idea of a simple, laid-back life. As I stated above though I don't think I could do it. It would just be too much for me and that is probably what others feel too.

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  58. Would Suelo's way of living leave the society too separated? Would it make society weaker based on the fact that some people will end up getting more than others without a static value or society to support them (like our Capitalist social country)?

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  59. In the article about Moab Man, I agree that there is a point where materialistic items, money and industrialism don't always lend themselves to happiness. On the first page of the excerpt, Damian Nash says, "'He is so deeply peaceful, it's contagious. He is living proof that money can't buy happiness.'" This is significant because I don't think that everyone can see that materialism is not what is truly important in life. Suelo's lifestyle teaches humans who consume themselves in material items that reaching one's full potential stems from nature. What would happen if everyone shifted lifestyles to become more like Suelo? Would society change in a good way or bad way? How would virtues change?

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  60. His life might teach us that we need to be much more aware of how much we all take advantage of what we have and what others don't. We as people don't realize what we do to the earth, others, and ourselves. In Moab man, he mentions that "his growing despair was tied to fretting over his financial ability to maintain his stuff," this is a sure sign of us taking advantage of something such as money then it backfiring in most instances and that causes us to be sucked into something we started. the Moab man's life shows that we don't need money or material electronics or what have you to be happy. He was very happy with just him being with himself and only the necessities. "he is truly the happiest person i have ever met."

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  61. Suelo's thoughts on what "taking, and receiving", seem to contradict themselves. He's fine with handouts, but money has been put into that item in which he is partaking of? He has good intentions of going back into nature, trying to avoid corruption, but his viewpoint and actions do not intertwine. Today, success is measured by money, appearance, or status: but what is "Success"? What is that ultimate point in which we work towards? Strive towards? Suelo's friend said that ideas like Suelo's are rejected because they are feared. Fear driven by someone going against the grain, "I think he makes people angry because they have this belief that if only they had a little more money, they'd be happy...His lifestyle is a challenge to their Holy Grail, the American consumer capitalist dream" (Blevins 2).Suelo elaborates that he is easily able to live off of our scraps, only taking "crumbs" from our societal table. It strikes a cord to me that today it's so easy to be wasteful, and blind to what true worth is. Yet one man's cry is deafened by consumerism, and our material "needs" we set to work for, obtain, and then throw away again. This text seemed similar to the movie Fight Club, the center of the idea in which we spend time, to a horrible job, buying things we don't need to impress people we don't care about. It makes you rethink you're whole ideal of value. Of materialistic possessions, and relationships.

    Why would Suelo take offense to being called a mooch, but later admitting he is a "parasite of sorts"? What does this say about humans' dependency to others? To the relationship between materialistic things, and relationships?

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    1. I agree with your thinking and now i can start to see what you mean with all the contradictions in this article on Suelo's lifestyle.

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  62. @ Klarissa
    I agree wholeheartedly. Your point is really valid. I sometimes feel that I rely far to much on the things that have been given to me. It takes guts to do what he did, and I respect him for that. But I'm not sure I could live the way he does though. I am constantly worried about my future, and there's nothing I could do to make me stop worrying. But I do feel that his example isn't something to be ignored.

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  63. I agree with Daniel Suelo's" lifestyle or way of life, I just don't think I could do it, nor do i believe it is the only way to accomplish the sort of happiness he describes having. "He is truly th happiest person i have ever met...He is living proof that money can't buy happiness." Suelo's lifestyle makes him happy and is showing everyone that it's not just money or objects that can make you happy but other lifestyle and choices too. But i don't agree with the idea that material objects and money can't bring happiness, because for some people they do. I just think this man is a great example to proving happiness comes in all shapes and forms, and it's all about perspective and what you choose to appreciate. This article shows that we tend to focus a lot on material objects and on how to get more money for more stuff and that we don't realize how much we already have. And that while money can bring some people pure happiness, for others it just doesn't cut it. It also helped me realize how much we waste, and that it only takes the basics to "live".

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    1. I definitely agree with you! I think that because Suelo was so unhappy with his life and his job, the idea of giving all of his possesions up made the most sense to him. This lifestyle allowed him to get out of the cycle of unhappiness. In this specific situation, for this specific individual, it makes sense that Suelo would escape the society that was making him so unhappy in the first place.

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  64. I agree with what Sam said, in that our society would deteriorate if we all started living like Daniel. I think he also represents some of the ideals of Transcendentalism, in that you can be yourself unless you are away from the pressures of society and you are alone in nature, which he has done to an extreme level, by living off of nothing but nature and what others have left in the trash. He also represents that money can't buy happiness. Daniel has said he is very happy with how he lives, but I think that is because this is how he has lived for most of his life. Could our society truly live like this, as hunters and gatherers, or would human kind as a whole slowly die off? Also I don't believe many people would be able to live like this. Daniel was able to give up his possessions, but he didn't have very many to begin with. I highly doubt that people with a stable income and lifestyle would be able to give everything up? What does this say about how we live our lives and the things we take for granted?

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  65. My favorite quote from Emerson’s work comes from page 219 of the text. Emerson writes, “The charming landscape which is saw this morning, is indubitably made up of some twenty or thirty farms. Miller owns this field, Locke that, and Manning the woodland beyond. But none of them owns the landscape.” This quote intrigues me in many ways. For instance, Emerson makes a point to state that without a doubt this land belongs to someone. This demonstrates the concept that humans are always wanting and hold the desire to have power and control. This obviously bothers Emerson because he purposely brings up the ownership of the land. Emerson also writes how no one owns the landscape although he just said that was true. Through contradicting statements Emerson shows his opinion. All these men believe they own the land and have the power. In reality they do not own anything; everything belongs to nature. I believe these notions are challenged every day because humans always preach about how beautiful nature is and how we should step away from society and our material items to appreciate the beauty; however we never do. Every day society goes through the same repetitive cycles never stopping to smell the roses. This creates a world of hypocrites and people who do not practice what they preach. It is important for people to think about what they are saying and live by the spoken ideals.

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  66. I honestly cannot agree with the concept of Suelo’s living situation. In my opinion it is great that he is trying to take a stand against the currency system; however I don’t agree with how he is dependent on the town and their trash. To me if someone was living without supporting the currency system he would live with no material items at all. Suelo does not live like this and instead relies on the town’s trash so he can have clothes and food without technically having to buy it. Suelo states, “We are all completely dependent on everyone else. The point is to live freely, in the present” (“Moab Man”). How can Suelo live without being dependent if society’s trash has enabled him to thrive and without depending on it he would have nothing? I also can’t wrap my head around the idea of everyone needing to go away from the currency system. If everyone did, who would be there to buy the materials to then throw out for the rest of the world to mooch off of? I believe that the idea of living without money is an excellent concept to consider, but I believe Suelo is a poor example of how to live without money. I believe it would be beneficial for society to take a step back and think about what is really important in life, similar to the brainstorm we listed on the board of what is 100% necessary to have in life.

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  67. My favorite quotation from Nature by Ralph Waldo Emerson was "Nature never wears a mean appearance. Neither does the wisest man extort all her secret, and lose his curiosity by finding out all her perfection." This quote really stuck out to me because I think it reveals a lot more than one may originally think. Emerson understand's life in many ways. He thrives for the mystery left in life, let that be in nature or in the souls of the people he knows. Emerson sees how the wanting to find out all of the secrets of the world makes everything abundantly more exciting. He sees nature in a calm way, in any way shape or form. Everything done in nature is done gently, even the things men find horrendous, all are done with nature's careful hand and out of grace. I absolutely love that Emerson views the world this way and just hope that people can learn to look at things the same. Although things may seem horrible, we must understand that nature was just running its course, and maybe that itself is a mystery we will never discover.

    I personally loved the way Suelo lives. Everybody who knows him sees him as the happiest person they know. I really agreed with his views on money and how it controls our happiness in life I only wish I was as brave as him to live like he does. One thing I did not agree with at first was how he got what he needed to survive from things that did actually cost money (the clothes he found in dumpsters did cost money at some point, the rides he hitchhiked needed gas, etc.). Then the more I thought about my disagreement, the more I thought about how he would not have to do this if we all lived like him. To be honest, there is now way everyone would ditch all of their belongings and take to the caves, people enjoy the things that they don't need. However, maybe through Suelo's lifestyle and philosophies people can begin to realize the important things in life, and what they actually need to be happy.

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