Describe Emerson’s philosophy of one man divided into many

Answer

Describe, in detail, Emerson’s philosophy of one man divided into many.  [2020]

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) presents a bold and clear idea in “The American Scholar” (1837). He tells a fable of One Man. Long ago, the gods split One Man into many. Then society grew by parts and jobs. Each person kept one power only. The whole was lost in small pieces. Emerson mourns this loss of unity. He speaks to heal this break. He speaks to make men whole again. His words are plain, strict, and strong.

The Old Fable: Emerson starts with a wise tale. He says, 

“The old fable covers a doctrine ever new and sublime… there is One Man… and that you must take the whole society to find the whole man.” 

The meaning is simple. One spirit lives in all men. Each person holds only a part. No single job can define Man. The farmer alone is not Man. The teacher alone is not a Man. Only the whole crowd shows the entire Man.

Division and Loss: After the split, the parts forgot the trunk. Skills were “parcelled out” to many hands. Then each worker saw only his tool. Dignity was lost in daily routine. Emerson shows this with a sharp line: 

“The planter, who is Man sent out into the field to gather food, is seldom cheered by any idea of the true dignity of his ministry.”

He sees bushel and cart only. He forgets the high aim. Thus, men walk as broken pieces.

Man Thinking Ideal: Emerson gives the cure and model. The scholar must be Man Thinking. He must not copy other minds. He must see nature, books, and life. He must unite thought and duty. Emerson warns us in clear words: 

“In the right state, he is Man Thinking. In the degenerate state… a parrot of other men’s thinking.”

So, the task is strong self-trust. A scholar has to think for truth, not for