Interesting. I agree that Whitman was essentially a pantheist. I agree than this might exclude mind but only by some expert reasoning.
WC --- On Fri, 11/28/08, Mike Mallory <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > From: Mike Mallory <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Proust review: Whitman > To: [email protected] > Date: Friday, November 28, 2008, 7:48 PM > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "William Conger" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Proust review: Whitman > > > > We should decide if the issue is about soul or mind. > ________________________________________________________ > > In section 8 to Song of the Open Road Whitman says, > > "The efflux of the soul is happiness, here is > happiness, > I think it pervades the open air, waiting at all times, > Now it flows unto us, we are rightly charged > > "Here rises the fluid and attaching character, ..... > > "....From it falls distill'd the charm that mocks > beauty and attainments, > Toward it heaves the shuddering longing ache of contact. > > > James E. Miller, Jr. says, in the Walt Whitman encyclopedia > > http://www.whitmanarchive.org/criticism/current/encyclopedia/entry_52.html > > "As the poem opens, the reader encounters the poet > "observing a spear of > summer grass" and extending an invitation to his soul. > He vows to "permit to > speak at every hazard, / Nature without check with original > energy" (section > 1). Leaving "[c]reeds and schools" behind, he > goes "to the bank by the wood > to become undisguised and naked" (sections 1 and 2), > clearly preparing > himself for the soul's visit of section 5, which > dramatizes the > transfiguring event that launches the poet on his lifelong > quest. > > And I am mindful of the following passage, > > I have said that the soul is not more than the body. > > And I have said that the body is not more than the soul, > > And nothing, not God, is greater to one than one's-self > is, > > > > Leaves of Grass > > http://imajesty.net/i_have_said_that_the_soul_is_not.htm > > I just received the Lehrer book and haven't been able > to start it, but on > the question of the "soul" in Whitman, I would > say that Whitman is speaking > of something different than the mind or conscious > experience. Rather, IMHO > he is suggesting an energizing relationship, harmony, or > acceptance of one's > naturalness. Whitman was familiar with Emerson and > Emerson's cosmology > swirled around his Oversoul, which I take to be a presence > allowing a person > to directly experience God as Nature. > > To restate my position, Whitman's "soul" is > more akin to the idea of a > person's "true nature", than consciousness or > mind in general. > > I am unwilling to defend the notion of a "true > self" and believe as Richard > Rorty did, that such absolutist notions are not > justifiable. Nonetheless, > that is the kind of notion I believe Whitman is working in > his poetry. > > Mike Mallory > > PS: Of course after I read the chapter, I may find I have > missed the point > entirely. ;<)
