Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American philosopher and poet, known for. A staunch advocate of individualism and clear-sighted critic of societal pressures, he led the early 19th century's Transcendentalist movement and greatly influenced the later New Thought movement. Representative Men contains the following seven lectures by Emerson:Uses of Great MenPlato; or, the PhilosopherSwedenborg; or, the MysticMontaigne; or, the SkepticShakspeare; or, the PoetNapoleon; or, the Man of the WorldGoethe; or, the Writer