Aesthetic Individualism and Practical Intellect

The exploration of American writing as a philosophical tradition highlights the significance of American allegory in articulating transcendentalism's legacy. Hansen examines intellectual connections from Emerson to William James, emphasizing the interplay between modernism and transcendental thought. He defines selfhood and moral tradition as efforts to impose order on the cosmos, revealing how allegory bridges transcendentalism and pragmatism. This approach fosters a dialectical understanding of reality, balancing objectivity and subjectivity while inviting speculation about humanity's role in existence.