Thinkers:
* Plato: Emerson was deeply influenced by Plato's concept of the Forms, the eternal and perfect archetypes of everything in the physical world. He believed in the existence of a "divine spark" within each individual, a connection to the universal soul, similar to Plato's concept of the "soul."
* Confucius: Emerson was fascinated by Confucianism, particularly its emphasis on individual self-cultivation and the importance of virtue and ethics. He admired Confucius's emphasis on the unity of mind and body, a concept that resonated deeply with Emerson's own beliefs.
* Immanuel Kant: Emerson admired Kant's emphasis on the power of the human mind to shape reality. He drew on Kant's concept of the "categorical imperative," which dictates that one should act only according to rules that could be universalized, to advocate for individual moral responsibility and the importance of self-reliance.
* William Wordsworth: Emerson found inspiration in Wordsworth's emphasis on the power of nature to inspire and uplift the human spirit. He shared Wordsworth's Romantic vision of nature as a source of spiritual and aesthetic beauty, and he believed that connecting with nature could help individuals reconnect with their own inner divinity.
Actors:
* Shakespeare: Emerson revered Shakespeare as the greatest poet and dramatist of all time, and he admired Shakespeare's ability to capture the complexities of human nature. He saw Shakespeare's work as a testament to the power of human imagination and creativity.
* Socrates: Although not a contemporary of Emerson's, Socrates's emphasis on questioning authority and seeking truth through dialogue deeply influenced Emerson's approach to intellectual inquiry. He saw Socrates as a model for intellectual independence and critical thinking.
In addition to these specific figures, Emerson was a voracious reader and absorbed ideas from a wide range of sources, including ancient Greek philosophers, Renaissance humanists, and Enlightenment thinkers. He was also influenced by the American literary and philosophical tradition, particularly the work of writers like Jonathan Edwards and Henry David Thoreau.
In short, Emerson's philosophy was a tapestry woven from the threads of many different thinkers and actors of the past, drawing upon their ideas to create his own unique vision of the world and the human experience. He blended ideas from ancient philosophy, Eastern religions, and European Romanticism, creating a distinctively American brand of spirituality and self-reliance.