Philosopher's Camp

            In 1858, a group of ten Boston intellectuals traveled into the seclusion of the Adirondack wilderness in search of reflection (Schlett). A brainy ensemble, the group included a few notorious thinkers including Ralph Waldo Emerson, James Russell Lowell, and Louis Aggasiz (Frost). The beauty of the region provided the crew with a perfect backdrop to engage in lively and deep conversation. With contributing minds of literature, poetry, philosophy, and science, the outing’s debates certainly drew from a wide range of perspectives. Emerson’s lofty perception of the company is clear as he says  “Chaucer had no such worthy crew,” (Emerson).

                                            Group depicted by the trip’s organizer, William James Stillman.

                       Image source: http://www.adirondackexplorer.org/book_reviews/philosophers-at-follensby

            The men at the Philosopher’s Camp did not simply hunt, fish, and chat. They essentially sparked a romantic sentiment with regard to the wilderness so much so that it held implications for conservation. In line with their occupations, the men thought deeply about the experience and Emerson most beautifully communicated the emotional stirrings the trip in his poem The Adirondacs. Secluded in the mountains, each star seemed to give off “A private beam into each several heart,” (Emerson). Here, he describes this unique dynamic that occurs when removed from the civilized world: the beauty of nature seems to belong solely to one’s self while that one is simultaneously aware of his/her participation in the collective. This paradoxical realization characterizes the mystic abilities of such a sublime landscape. If a landscape possesses this kind of ability, its preservation now gains importance. Despite the universality of this experience, it is somewhat impossible for the average mind to convey the sentiment with enough eloquence to move an audience. That’s where the brilliance of the Camp proved especially important: it allowed for the rousing of emotional reaction that manifested itself in the growth of conservation efforts for the park.

Works Cited

Emerson, Ralph Waldo. The Adirondacs.

Frost, Richard. "A Deep Dive into the Philosopher's Camp." Adirondack Daily Enterprise. <http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/page/content.detail/id/553789.html>.

Schlett, James. "A not too Greatly Changed Eden." Cornell University Press. <http://www.cornellpress.cornell.edu/book/?gcoi=80140100109050>.