Representative Nature of Individuals

Each great man is a representative of his age, nation, or a particular human faculty, embodying the ideas and necessities of his time rather than being purely original.

Emerson argues that men are representative of things and ideas, serving as interpreters of nature.

Plato is presented as the representative philosopher, embodying the synthesis of all prior knowledge and standing for the whole of philosophy.

Plato is presented as a representative philosopher who marks an epoch, embodying the privilege of the intellect and the power of carrying up every fact to successive platforms.

Montaigne is chosen as the representative of skepticism, illustrating how individuals can embody broader philosophical attitudes.