Emerson’s Self-RelianceEmerson’s Self-Reliance

Comment on what themes were Comment on what themes were discovered after reading the first half discovered after reading the first half of Self –Reliance.of Self –Reliance.

What trends were noticed in What trends were noticed in Emerson’s style?Emerson’s style?

Explanation:Explanation: Emerson states that all people need to brush aside Emerson states that all people need to brush aside

societal values and materialism in order to focus societal values and materialism in order to focus on the self.on the self.

Environmental stimuli are nothing but detractors Environmental stimuli are nothing but detractors from harnessing the “true-self” and make people from harnessing the “true-self” and make people act insecurely and/or clouds people from the truth.act insecurely and/or clouds people from the truth.

Good and bad do not exist unless they sway a Good and bad do not exist unless they sway a person from his/her path.person from his/her path.

Therefore, people and their causes are hypocritical Therefore, people and their causes are hypocritical as actions do not benefit the self, rather they are as actions do not benefit the self, rather they are performed for others.performed for others.

IRONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!IRONY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ask: Does Emerson practice what he Ask: Does Emerson practice what he preaches?preaches?

Emerson himself is a hypocrite because:Emerson himself is a hypocrite because: He vows that God is an oversoul that all are related He vows that God is an oversoul that all are related

to and is manifested in everything. As well, the to and is manifested in everything. As well, the mind, self, and God/Oversoul are infinite.mind, self, and God/Oversoul are infinite.

He leaves the ministry in order to focus on the self.He leaves the ministry in order to focus on the self. Conformity is the shroud that covers the true self Conformity is the shroud that covers the true self

and people must protest materialism, society, and and people must protest materialism, society, and organization.organization.

HOWEVERHOWEVER Emerson himself fails to truly follow his own Emerson himself fails to truly follow his own

“philosophical sermon” because he can not truly “philosophical sermon” because he can not truly rid himself in his belief of organized religion and rid himself in his belief of organized religion and the fact that there is a true God.the fact that there is a true God.

The aforementioned is noted by his writing style – The aforementioned is noted by his writing style – it is almost sermon like in that he is attempting to it is almost sermon like in that he is attempting to make the reader feel guilty in order that he/she will make the reader feel guilty in order that he/she will agree.agree.

Emerson is also extremely insecure and actually Emerson is also extremely insecure and actually longs for acceptance. Yet he goes about it in a longs for acceptance. Yet he goes about it in a fashion that the society of the time rejects. fashion that the society of the time rejects.

He truly wants attention and to be accepted so he He truly wants attention and to be accepted so he attempts to shock society into noticing him.attempts to shock society into noticing him.

Society does not care, really, and they pass Emerson off Society does not care, really, and they pass Emerson off as a sort of anomaly that is not to be taken seriously.as a sort of anomaly that is not to be taken seriously.

Emerson’s ideas are too liberal for the time and only a Emerson’s ideas are too liberal for the time and only a small faction of disciples follow in his footsteps, small faction of disciples follow in his footsteps, Thoreau being the most devout.Thoreau being the most devout.

Emerson’s philosophy of self-reliance is also Emerson’s philosophy of self-reliance is also realistically impossible.realistically impossible.

If all societies focus on the individuals which If all societies focus on the individuals which comprise them, then society as a governing unit comprise them, then society as a governing unit can not function.can not function.

Imagine a society of screaming 5 yr. olds. What is Imagine a society of screaming 5 yr. olds. What is the result?the result?

Complete anarchy!!!!!!Complete anarchy!!!!!! Without conformity, there is no law, government, or Without conformity, there is no law, government, or

hope that humanity is going to find the goodness in hope that humanity is going to find the goodness in itself or in others.itself or in others.

Humans are generally selfish, but also torn between the Humans are generally selfish, but also torn between the struggle of moral goodness and evil.struggle of moral goodness and evil.

Conformity keeps humanity, for the most part, in check Conformity keeps humanity, for the most part, in check and allows society to function.and allows society to function.

Without conformity, complete anarchy would arise and Without conformity, complete anarchy would arise and society would eventually society would eventually

1. cease to exist as humans would wipe themselves out based 1. cease to exist as humans would wipe themselves out based on greedon greed

2. new rules and governments would arise and those who 2. new rules and governments would arise and those who manipulated the masses are followed.manipulated the masses are followed.

So, Emerson is a big whiner who fails to So, Emerson is a big whiner who fails to actually practice what he preaches. actually practice what he preaches.

He is a dreamer in some respects, or a He is a dreamer in some respects, or a visionary, but does not have the mental means visionary, but does not have the mental means to act upon his own philosophy.to act upon his own philosophy.

Thoreau does.Thoreau does.

Emerson when compared to the hippies of the Emerson when compared to the hippies of the 1960’s, is really no different.1960’s, is really no different.

The hippies were generally yuppies who The hippies were generally yuppies who whined about the unfairness of the world and whined about the unfairness of the world and denounced conformity.denounced conformity.

They found security, recognition, and They found security, recognition, and commonality within their small circles.commonality within their small circles.

However, eventually the movement went by However, eventually the movement went by the wayside as conformity reared its head.the wayside as conformity reared its head.