青出于蓝——梭罗与爱默生的异同

Successors excel the Predecessors: Similarity and Dissimilarity Between Thoreau and Emerson

有师徒关系的爱默生和梭罗有很多共同之处,梭罗是在爱默生的很多关照和启发下走向成熟的,人们往往把梭罗看成是爱默生理论的实践者。实际上,梭罗却形成了与爱默生截然不同的、在现代社会中更有影响力的敬畏自然的生态观。尽管爱默生的实用主义思想和他本人的师长式派头使得他贬低了具有超前意识的梭罗,随着人们生态意识的不断增强,梭罗在人们心中的地位却越来越高。

Emerson and Thoreau, tutor and student, have many similarities. Thoreau establishes himself with much patronage and deference to Emerson. Thus, Thoreau is often regarded as a practitioner of Emerson＇ s theories. However, Thoreau assumes an ecological attitude of obedient inferiority toward nature, which is quite different from his tutor＇s and has a more broadening influence in modern society. Because of his pragmatic ideas and mastership, Emerson depreciates Thoreau＇ s advanced concept. However, due to a growing ecological consciousness, people value Thoreau more and more highly.