What are the chief characteristics of the scholar A scholar is a person who possesses a high level of knowledge in a particular subject acquired through extensive study He possesses specific characteristics as noted by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay The American Scholar He calls the scholar Man Thinking According to him the real scholar is free brave and creative He learns from Nature Books and Action Man Thinking Emerson says that the scholar is Man Thinking This means he must think for himself He should not be a follower or imitator A real scholar uses his own reason and judgment Emerson warns against becoming the parrot of other men s thinking The scholar must be independent in mind and spirit Lover of Nature and Truth The scholar loves Nature because Nature is his first teacher Emerson says Nature is the opposite of the soul answering to it part