Foundations for a Comparative Study Between Emerson and Chinese Philosophy

In this chapter, I will explain why I chose to conduct a comparative study between Emerson and Chinese philosophy. I point out that they have similarities in their understanding of the good life, which is a life of living in harmony with nature. However, their different interpretation of nature and harmony brings distinct aesthetic cultures, which has a direct influence on their ethical attitude towards nature. Emerson’s transcendentalism promotes the tendency to preserve nature for their own sake while Chinese philosophy tends to promote the sustainable living in nature. At the end of this chapter, I mention that my comparison of Chinese philosophy with Emerson from the perspective of nature, spirituality and place stems from three considerations, including personal experience, interdisciplinary focus and similarity between Emerson and Chinese philosophers in their writing styles.