Emerson & Rhetoric: A Conversation with Roger Thompson
The philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson, language and technology with Professor Roger Thompson.
This week’s letter is in conversation with Roger Thompson. Roger is an award winning author and the former Director of the Program in Writing & Rhetoric at Stony Brook University, where he currently teaches. In our conversation we focus on the work of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Roger’s book, Emerson & the History of Rhetoric, the changing landscape of communication, and the nature of progress. Below you’ll find time stamps to navigate through the various topics we discuss in our conversation.
A massive thanks to Professor Thompson for having a chat with me. This is what Thought Divers is all about in my eyes. You can find out more about Roger and view his work here, or follow him on Instagram @ewfthompson.
00:00:36 - Roger Thompson’s interest in Emerson
00:02:37 - Emerson and American Culture
00:05:55 - Emerson’s Metaphysics
00:07:41 - Is it so bad to be misunderstood?
00:09:48 - Intellectual Freedom and the Developing Self
00:14:00 - Mending the Individual Truth with the Absolute
00:18:05 - Transcendentalism and the Modern New-Age
00:25:00 - What is the “True Church” of our day?
00:29:29 - Emerson’s Exploration and Technology
00:34:32 - Language and the Divine
00:45:00 - You are not the next Milton
00:51:50 - On Practical Philosophy
00:56:20 - Clubhouse and Oral Culture
1:06:30 - The Changing Nature of Progress
1:10:06 - Emerson and Dying Traditions
If you enjoy this conversation, let me know! Your thoughts will help navigate this project to greater seas.
Keep diving,
A.J.
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