Self Reliance
Key Ideas, arguments, theories in the reading
Emerson begins his essay, “Self Reliance”, by stressing the importance of thinking for oneself rather than blindly following society. He argues that an individual’s own experience will always outweigh knowledge gained through the education system, and that in order to lead a fulfilled life, one must rely only on his/her intuition and reason. Emerson states that “To believe what is true in your private heart is true for all men – that is genius”. An individual can only become self-realized, and thus creative, when he/she stops relying on other’s opinions and begins to think and experience for him/herself. When the individual shadows the group, the tragic result is the acceptance and maintenance of ancient ideas, and not the proliferation of new ones.
Emerson’s ideal human being is a “child-like” (un-cynical or un- tentative) man with self esteem and original ideas. His new man-child contains the characteristics of an idealized individual: he is not hypocritical, not cautious and blissfully unconcerned about his own reputation or other’s opinions. Emerson relates the term “maturing” to “conforming”. The childishness of a self realized individual is important because he must resist the cultural pressures and norms – he must only listen to his inner-voice and reject the mob mentality pressuring culture’s traditional values.
Conforming, Emerson argues, is a waste of a human life. Time spent molding and restricting your personality depletes personal energy, and cultural rules and regulations cloud and silence the unique inner voice needed in order to create anything new, creative or influential.
Conforming is often easier than disassociating oneself from society to become an ideal individual. When one becomes self realized, society often disapproves and (since mainstream society is based on consistency) the urge to remain consistent with past beliefs hinders the full expansion of an individual’s progress. People often refuse new positions simply because they want to be consistent and have taken older positions in the past. In order to progress, the individual must constantly throw out old ideas and admit their faults. Constant re-evaluation of ancient ideas and the creation of newer ones is the key to a more progressive civilization. Emerson points out that the people we currently try to emulate were the ones who were autonomous, self-realized (and often social lepers) of their time. The people who were outcasts then are the most celebrated now.
“Inconsistency” is often a misunderstanding – what appears to be contradictory is really just the initial thought process prior to a discovery. Emerson relates this thought process to the tacking ship; in order to make any kind of headway the ship must tack and move in zigzag lines across the sea before finally reaching an identifiable end (or new discovery). Similarly, individual life choices might seem inconsistent but when these short segments are combined, the individual’s existence is pointed and constant.
Emerson argues that people don’t seek out their inner voice is because they feel inferior in society. This inferiority, he states, is directly related to imposing material objects – gigantic buildings, expensive books, etc. – and that the people must realize that human beings dictate the worth of these items not the other way around. He also argues that inferiority stems from commonality; people enjoy reading about the famous and rich which devalues regular society and ordinary values of morality and virtue. Ordinary citizens can be just as scandalous or just as the rich, but society’s infatuation with fame fails to recognize this.
One way to fight this creeping insecurity is to rely on Instinct, Spontaneity, and Intuition. The wisdom, or “Genius”, of life comes directly from our own inner knowledge. This kind of knowledge is different from the second hand, re-created, information we obtain through society’s outlets because it is individual and direct. Instead of aligning onself with a pre-established school of thought, individuals create new and thought-provoking ideas – which in return proliferates new knowledge for humanity. The future is distinct from the past purely because individuals create new opinions and beliefs.
The individual isn’t obligated to society – society may remain stagnant, but the individual should strive to constantly change. Emerson argues that it is hard to infuse oneself with a constant stream of new knowledge because of the cultural “mob mentality”. The “mob” – the lazy, non self reliant, majority – is led by desires and feelings of social responsibility. We do not dictate our own lives, society furnishes them for us: “Our housekeeping is mendicant, our arts, our occupations, our marriages, our religions, we have not chosen, but society has chosen for us. We are parlor soldiers. We shun the rugged battle of fate, where strength is born”. The soul recognizes “Right” and “Truth” but we quiet this inner voice in favor of the louder, more aggressive social voice. Emerson urges us to listen to ourselves, and practice truth, integrity and honesty – live by your individual morality and not the mob’s. In this way individualism will be beneficial to the whole of society.
Emerson argues that self- reliant individuals are needed in four social groups: religion, culture, arts, and society.
1.) Religion fears creativity and the religious creeds and text have preset answers to all of life’s questions. This quells curiosity and new ideas; which stops self realization in its’ tracts. Religion is based on imitation, and recitation; Emerson argues that in order to relate to a religion, one must try to advance one’s soul and extend one’s relationship with God through reasoning and intuition instead of merely taking ancient scripture and repeating it word for word.
2.) Culture and travel are also just forms of imitation. Emerson argues that the education system has failed because he often finds that people travel in order to experience ancient cultures instead of concentrating on the present, evolving one. He says “He who travels to be amused or to get somewhat which he does not carry, travels away from himself, and grows old even in youth among things”. One must look inward to find true knowledge, and Emerson believes that traveling only inhibits this process – when a person travels he is looking outside himself for entertainment and growth when he should really be reflecting inwardly.
3.) Emerson argues that education has created a culture of imitators. They are swayed by cultural desires and norms and therefore cannot differentiate their individual desires with the desires they have been conditioned to pursue and want. He also argues that society does not progress from new technology – in fact, we lose wisdom. The only way to further society’s progress is to have students rely on themselves; “never imitate. Your own gift you can present every moment with cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation; but the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession”.
4.) Society, Emerson argues, never advances either. For everything gained, something is taken away. He scoffs at the words “civilized” because although they have gained something via technology, they have lost mental and physical capabilities along the way. “The civilized man has built a coach but lost the use of his feet…he has a fine
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