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Philosophical examination of self reliance
Roles of social imagination in our day to day lives
Roles of social imagination in our day to day lives
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Recommended: Philosophical examination of self reliance
Emerson shows transcendentalism through the society, individualism, and imagination in the society we live in today. The first way Emerson shows self-reliance today is through the society. Emerson's perspective is that the world “world whips you with its displeasure” for nonconformity. This implies that if a person does something society does not think is normal then they get tormented for it. Today people get laughed at if they look a different way than society wants them to look or if they do something that is not seen as normal. Martin Luther King Jr tried to give African Americans the same rights as everyone else but society thought they were “less” than everyone else. He was sent to jail and eventually murdered for not complying with society. In schools today if a student comes in with purple hair and a tail on, people laugh at them and make jokes about them because society does not normally see this behavior. He also argues that “the other terror” that scares people from trusting himself is consistency. When a person is constantly consistent then they will not be able to trust theirself, preventing them from trying new things in life. They limit theirself to what they can do. A person who avoids flying on an airplane by always driving to their destination no …show more content…
matter how far the distance is, will be terrified when they have no other option than to fly. The second way Emerson shows self-reliance is through individualism. Emerson views that a person should “do all that concerns [them], not what people think.” An individual should do what is best for them and not care about what others have to say about it. People post what they want on social media. A person may take offense to what was posted and judge them for what they say. Criticism happens every day on social media but individuals continue to post what they would like regardless of how it looks to others. If a teenager that is pregnant decided to give her child up for adoption because she could not provide for it, people will call her careless and a bad mother. Emerson believes that an individual should do what is best for them and should not be affected by others comments. He feels that “imitation is suicide” and that you can destroy your own identity if you try to be someone you are not. Social media has encouraged people to copy others more than they did in the past. A girl whose peers made rude comments about her appearance developed anorexia due to trying to lose weight when she was already skinny. He wants individuals to be themselves. The third way Emerson displays self-reliance is through imagination.
Emerson's opinion is that an individual “with consistency has simply nothing to do.” If an individual sticks to the same routine and doing things within their comfort zone, they will become bored and have nothing to do. When they use their imagination there will always be something new to try due to their ideas. Today, those who use their imagination can achieve whatever they wish to. They believe there are endless possibilities, while those who are simple minded believe there is only ever one solution and if it is not that, it is not solvable. Mark Zuckerberg used bits of his imagination to create the famous social media site
Facebook. It is clear that an individual should do what their heart tells them to do and that judging others will do no good. Doing what others want a person to, is only taking away from their unique identity. These ideas are expressed through imagination, individuality, and society. Society does not get to decide what is right and wrong for an individual, they get to decide. Not conforming to society may lead to consequences such as being laughed at but if that is a person's personality, they should not change it just to be like everyone else conforming to society.
I agree with the statement Benjamin Anastas makes about Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “self-reliance” of how it is “the most pernicious piece of literature in the American canon” (Anastas 602-603). One reason why I agree with Anastas is that Emerson believes the people are timid and apologetic and do not have opinions of their own. Another reason why I stand alongside Anastas is that Emerson thinks people are afraid of each other and the truth(s) that others have are but quotes from a saint or sage. My final reason that I believe Anastas is correct is due to Emerson believing our society does not gain anything new that makes life worth living.
Ralph Waldo Emerson is considered the Father of Transcendentalism because he first introduced the idea of a simplistic and intuitive way of life. He claims, “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist . . . Nothing is at least sacred but the integrity of your own mind” (“Self-Reliance” 392). Nonconformity is an essential part of Emerson’s definition of a transcendentalist. To be able to live a truly boundless and accomplished life, one must not fall into the daily, busy life of society. He or she must stand out and follow their intuition, even it is not considered the norm. The only way to be content is to trust one’s instinct, not be jaded by the pressures society.
Emerson is known as the father of Transcendentalism because he was the founder of the movement. His writings appealed to both intellectuals and the general public even if his new ideas were hard for most of society to understand. Emerson’s entire life journey was transcendental. He was constantly thinking outside of society’s norms. Emerson once said “Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist” (Emerson). Emerson means that to be a real man you cannot conform to what society wants you to be. Society tends to want everyone to think the same way and do what they are told to do. A man cannot go around following others and not thinking for himself.
In "Self-Reliance," philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson argues that people shouldn't be reliant on what others in society think. The main point of this essay is for people in society to realize that the only way to be comfortable is to be uncomfortable first. Throughout the essay it can be complicating to understand what Emerson is trying to accomplish. In the first paragraph Emerson states," The soul always hears an admonition in such lines." He also writes," Watch that gleam of light which flashes across his mind." Lastly Emerson claims," we shall be forced to take with shame our own opinions from another."
One of the primary issues that Emerson tried to convey was that one must follow what they believe is true for themselves and not listen to what other people think. He states, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps perfect sweetness the independence of solitude(Emerson 151).” One of the definitions of the word “world” is “human society.” The word “opinion” means “a view, judgment, or appraisal formed in the mind about a particular matter.” By putting these words together, Emerson is implying that the “world’s opinion” is the general point of view accepted by most of society. Emerson also uses the word, “solitude” which means, “the quality or state of being alone or remote from society.” By also using the word “solitude” in this sentence, he shows a contrast between the majority (society), and the individual. What Emerson suggests is that if one can live in a world full of people who think a certain way because they were taught to believe that way, but still hold your own ground and follow what you believe, you are a great person.
Transcendentalists Thoreau and Emerson conveyed strong, specific viewpoints on the world through their writing. The transcendentalist ideals differ vastly with the lives lived by most of the modern world today. Firstly, the two differ on views of self-reliance. Secondly, they have different outlooks on the government and organized groups. Lastly, transcendentalist and modern American views vary by the way they view nature. These differences between transcendentalism and life today are essential in understanding life then, as well as life now.
Emerson’s idea of self- reliance is different from similar to the common use of the term (take care of your own needs and don’t depend on others outside yourself) Emerson’s idea is similar because the words “self- reliant” is saying take care of your own. When your self reliant or taking care of your own you are dependent and not relying on other people. His idea is different because “self- reliant” is a more sophisticated way of saying “I can hold my own” and or “I can take care of myself.”
He writes, “all things real are so by so much virtue as they contain.” Emerson says that things that are unique and individual are real, so therefore people who are mere imitations of society are neither unique nor individual. This makes it impossible for them to have distinct characteristics and qualities. A person with greater self reliance, Emerson’s goal for society, is an individual who brings value to themselves and others. In his closing paragraph, Emerson drives the final point home in his case for self-reliance. “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself. Nothing can bring you peace but the triumph of principles.” The major goal in life is seen as being at peace with oneself, a goal nearly impossible if one is an imitation of someone else. Becoming self reliant is not so simple as making a single decision, it is a journey. Emerson provides crucial explanation and motivation for one to become self-reliant, and leaves it to the reader to take this goal upon
Transcendentalism is the idea that society has corrupted the individual’s mind. Transcendentalists believe that people are of higher quality when they use their individual mind and are independent of the views of the world (“Transcendentalism”) This movement started in 1836, by three men, and was said to have died out following Margaret Fuller’s death in 1850 (“Transcendentalism”).
Emerson starts with a description of one who has the ideal relationship with nature, "The lover of nature is he whose inward and outward senses are still truly adjusted to each other; who has retained the spirit of infancy even into the era of manhood." Emerson is saying that man needs to retain wonder of nature, a quality often lost as a person ages. People become too distracted by petty conflicts that in Emerson's eyes, are ultimately insignificant.
In “Self Reliance” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he promotes the importance of self reliance as an individual, and in society. Individuality to Emerson Opposed the traditional ideas of society, and to him it meant to oppose the conformity and consistency in society. He believes that the majority of people have given up their self reliance because of their fear of judgement by society. To be an individual, Emerson stresses that one has to be a risk taker, and disregard all things external.
“A philosophical and literary movement, centered in concord and Boston , which was prominent in the intellectual and cultural life of New England from 1836 until just before the civil war”(A handbook of literary terms, page 318).
In an address to the scholars in the Phi Beta Kappa society at Cambridge in Massachusetts Ralph Waldo Emerson in 1837 delivered a speech in which he stated that the literature during the European influence required scholars to memorize texts written by other writers. The speech was titled The American Scholar and the main idea of his speech was that the literature in America should be completely different from the European literature. Basically the scholars should have the freedom to write in any form they wish to write in and not copy the way other writers have already written. By this statement Emerson reminds the citizens of America that their culture were modified by the Europeans so much that people had already started to forget their own culture. In this respect Emerson is reminding the citizens of America that since they won the war of independence against the Europeans and that they now had a chance to start afresh every developmental activity. Therefore in literature to start fresh the Americans needed to write in a new form that would be different from how the Europeans wrote and had taught Americans to write. Emerson claims that the new form of writing can be achieved through influences from nature, books and action. He was thus a transcendentalist.
The Anthology of American Literature says, “Like his philosophy, his writing seemed to lack organization, but it swarmed with epigrams and memorable passages” (939). Even though Ralph Waldo Emerson’s works had flaws, he “was nineteenth-century America’s most notable essayist” (Anthology of American Literature, 938). According to Daniel G. Payne, Emerson’s point of view of transcendentalism is “views on nature and its relation to God and the human soul” (Payne). Standing on the bare ground, my head bathed by the blithe air, and uplifted into infinite space, all mean egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eye-ball; I am nothing; I see all; the currents of the Universal Being circulate through me; I am part or particle of God" (942).
In Richard Whelan’s book, Self-Reliance, Whelan elaborated on some of the ideas Ralph Waldo Emerson gave. He also revised some words and changed it to make it more explicit. In the first essay “Spiritual Laws”, Emerson states that God exists, which is the divine power that determines everything. That divine power is in each atom of the universe which is how we are all connected. He also states that people should find their universal soul and go in the right direction which will lead them to an excessive success. Spiritual law is the law of nature where every person has a talent which is their call. When people have faith in their universal soul and when they use their talent, they will gain success that they can enjoy but people can make