Merton's Theory Of Returning To Nature

However, he denounces this point, arguing that nature is a better teacher of self-fulfillment than society ever could be. Returning to nature is returning to reality. Thoreau believes that “be it life or death, we only crave reality” (2006). Society has forced us to create a false reality with its clutter, but this must be rejected and individuals find their own reality by returning to nature.
Merton, however, would most likely disagree with this perspective. Thoreau wants individuals to escape to nature to better themselves for their own sake; to “renew thyself” and “keep ourselves awake” (Walden, 2000-2001). Merton would argue solitude was to improve your own mental and emotional state, but not for your own sake. This would be for the
It is perhaps through their own interaction with nature that shaped their opinions of how a person should take their solitude in nature. Merton, being part of the Abbey, was isolated from the outside world but never really removed from his specific community. The hermitage is only a mile walk from the Abbey. Not only that, but the monks of the Abbey use their time in solitude serving God, in order to better serve the communities around them. Thoreau on the other hand had several acres to himself and actually owned the land. A portion of Walden Pond was his to do with as he pleased, which could have shaped his view that Nature was the means of teaching man to be independent to achieve his own self-fulfillment as he did.
Despite their differences in opinion over the purpose of solitude in nature, Merton and Thoreau did agree that the relationship between technological advancement and its impacts on nature did need to be heavily examined. Thoreau and Merton both acknowledge the intertwined relationship that humanity and nature shares, and seen technological advancement as a source of strain and even a potential threat to this