Emerson Essay On Self-Reliance

Introduction

Ralph Waldo Emerson, a great philosopher, wrote an essay on ‘Self-Reliance’ in 1841. In his Self-Reliance essay, he emphasized the need of each person to avoid false consistency and conformity. He also asked individuals to follow their own instincts and ideas. Emerson also wrote 1 more important letter and that letter is known as Law of compensation. Emerson’s self-reliance preached the importance of individuals and the satisfaction it provides in the lives of an individual. This essay can be divided into three parts, i.e., the importance of self-reliance, self-reliance & individual, and self-reliance & society.

The importance of self-reliance

Emerson’s Self-Reliance promotes the belief in one’s self and intuition rather than others’ opinions. If a person relies on others’ opinions, he minimizes his creative power which is necessary for bold and robust individualism. He also lacks inspiration or hope who believes in others. Emerson gives the example of children as models of self-reliant behaviour as they are too young to be hypocritical, hesitant, or cynical. He emphasizes that boys and idealized individuals are both masters of self -reliance and they apply their own standards to all that they see. This attitude is different in the case of cautious individuals as they are overly concerned about their reputation, approval, and opinion of others. They also lack the art of acting spontaneously or genuinely and are always hesitant or unsure. Emerson’s self-reliance held a strong and extreme position on non-conformists who resisted the pressure to conform to social norms which defeat self-reliance in its members. He rejects many of society’s moral sentiments and asks people to wrong more about their family and community at home rather than those a thousand miles off. Watch our latest video to understand that why we should not judge others ?

He also asks people to donate directly to needy individuals rather than giving donations to the organization. One should not bother about his actions being praised or ignored by society but the important thing is to act independently and live truly than to have one’s goodness extolled in public. He also does not advocate individuals physically withdrawing from other people but only asks him to maintain his individuality. Emerson’s self-reliance notes two enemies of individuality. Society’s disapproval and individual’s own sense of consistency. An individual’s full nature is expressed by his urge to remain consistent with past actions and beliefs. One should review these and become mature with his evolution of ideas and wellspring of creativity.

Self-Reliance and the Individual

Emerson quoted ‘Let a man know his worth and keep thing under his feet. Emerson cities people feel of lesser worth when they come across magnificent buildings and heroic works of art, including costly books. He condemns exaggerated respect given to the royalty and asks why people read more often about the acts of well-known individuals rather than ordinary people. Emerson’s self-reliance emphasizes that intuitive individuals can only see the depths of truth. Intuitive knowledge leads to transcendence. And it does not come from any teacher, but it reaches deeper than any kind of emotion such as gratitude, joy, and hope, etc. society cannot behold a self–reliant individual as he constantly changes, growing nobler and virtuous, eternally evolving for better. While society may remain stagnant, a self-reliant person keeps gaining knowledge and power of the permeating spirit. Although the society can be improved when every individual in it becomes a mode of self-reliance. Emerson urges us to value integrity more than comfort, truth before politeness, and honesty before hypocrisy. A self-reliant person may be understood as self-indulgent or selfish but he will be more godlike when he rigorously follow his consciences.

Self-Reliance and Society

According to Emerson’s self-reliance, society needs the morality of self-reliant individuals in four arenas; culture, which devalues individualism; the arts, which teach us only to imitate; religion, which fears creativity and society, which falsely values so-called progress.

Self-reliance can turn a person’s mind from self-centred desires to benevolent wishes for the common good thereby benefitting religion. Religion could also help people by introducing new ideas and systems of thought to an individual rather than substituting a set of ready answers. Self-reliance can bring one peace, not the society, not the travel, not the property.

Conclusion

Emerson’s self-reliance holds a strong position on many issues related to individuals and shows a good path to follow for a person and a society to attain peace and progress with one-self. It asks an individual to be a risk-taker. It helps a person become a godly person with noble thoughts of the greater good for all.