Emily Dickinson, an American Socrates in and out of Emersonian Transcendentalism

Abstract

Emily Dickinson, who ＂knows-and does not know,＂ deems ＂skepticism of the Heart＂ sweet for it inspiringly examines views and axioms, leading to constant inquiry and self-exploration in her writings. As suggested in poem 1438, she exerts a heart as well as mind which invites but ＂then retards the truth＂ lest ＂Certainty be sere.＂ Both her life and writings demonstrate an inclination to quesion dominant perspectives, constantly experiment, search, and enter into dialogue with her own self and the world, disallowing ＂an Axiom＂ the ＂Opportunity＂ to confine her thinking and composition. Accordingly, even though manifesting the potentiality of books to inspire her thinking and imagination, Dickinson, with the spirit of Socrates as well as Ralph Waldo Emerson in his ＂American Scholar,＂ intends to be ＂Man thinking＂ and write her own books in poetry. With stimulation from Transcendentalist liberalism and a Socratic spirit urging critical thinking, Dickinson explores in various directions and observes experience from diverse perspectives and through various lenses. Despite her observations similar to those of Transcendentalists, Dickinson is not ＂subdued＂ by her ＂instruments＂ of inspiration. Maintaining her individuality, extreme independence, ＂Sweet skepticism of the Heart,＂ and the essence of ＂Experiment＂ and ＂Wonder＂ in thinking, she brings the spirit of Socrates and the nonconformist American scholar into full play so as not to be limited to the thinking orbit of Emersonian Transcendentalism. Instead, she reveals its controversial aspects-what is questionable or not absolutely true-encouraging a reinvestigation into Emerson's philosophy. Dickinson presents the multifarious aspects of the inner as well as natural world, revealing her disinheritance from transcendental knowledge, which David Porter regards as the Dickinson ＂mark of modernism＂ while Jed Deppman views such disinheritance along with her constant questioning of authority as postmodern in Trying to Think with Emily Dickinson. Writings created by Dickinson as a skeptical philosopher poet who constantly interrogates without easily accepting or rejecting learned philosophies indeed can be understood as postmodern especially as she often leaves indeterminacy indeterminate, the irreconcilable irreconcilable, and composes not within pre-established rules but through a program of constant exploration/experimentation similar to that which Jean-Francois Lyotard attributes to the creation of a postmodern sublime. If readers try to think with Dickinson as Deppman suggests and explore the essence of Emersonian Transcendentalism with her, they will have the chance to awaken to the difference between the conceptual but superficial understanding and the visceral/profound realization of Emerson's philosophy as well as the inner and natural worlds. They may thereby develop their personal comprehension of the philosophy and wisdom.