Self-Reliance
“Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.”
“Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (20, 21)
Considered the father of American literature and a forerunner of the early Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in the 1800s in the midst of a creative synergy of philosophies, combining skepticism and Biblical criticism with English and German Romanticism. He wrote several essays and poetry that took on a contemplative character. In fact, as an American Transcendentalist convinced of the inherent goodness of humanity, whose purity becomes corrupted only by societal pressures, Emerson proposed a set of contemplative tools, ranging from solitude to the subject-centered approach and an overall break from religious authority, as a means toward restoring an innate self-reliance free from dogmatism.
Indeed, in his essay entitled “Self-Reliance,” which we explore in this article, Emerson does exactly this. His writings are largely intended as mirrors to re-orient his readers and prompt reflection so they may look within for inspiration and answers.
An Inner Compass
Emerging from a deep dissatisfaction with doctrines and dogmas, Emerson ventured to know what was true for himself, exploring unpaved roads rather than trekking already-made paths. Like other contemplatives who came before him, he developed and refined an inner compass of sorts, upon which he relied for navigating the whims of the world. Breaking from tradition, Emerson aimed to cultivate his mind independent of commonly accepted dogma, a free-thinking approach from which we could all stand to learn if we wish not to succumb to the brainwashing imposed by sources such as the media and so-called "powers that be." By refining one's own inner compass, one may better navigate the world's convoluted roads.
From birth, we are thrown into a world that provides a ground for us to be conditioned, Emerson reflects. Believing that this conditioning ground inhibits our thriving, he actively resisted it. In fact, how we live our lives is typically dictated by this already existing world and its dominant cultures, which prevents and stifles what Emerson called self-reliance, an ability to shape our own lives from the conditions of that world without being ruled or dictated by those conditions. Such conditions could be likened to clay. Rather than let ourselves be manufactured in some pre-determined manner as if we were mere lumps of clay to be shaped identically on a conveyor belt assembly line, we may become our own artists, sculpting the clay we inherit however we choose.
Strongly favoring this actively creative approach, Emerson rejected the usual ways of societal conformity. He even goes so far as calling society a “conspiracy” and a “joint-stock company” (21) because its members agree to live under the illusion that conformity guarantees survival. By conforming to societal pressure in exchange for safety and security, we thereby give up our freedom. This tendency only encumbers human potential.
Emerson professes that human potential, freed from such shackles, is capable of expanding infinitely outward through its own will. Through such expansion, we may transcend established values, living a higher existence than that imposed by the confines of social norms.
Universal Goodness
Not only was Emerson optimistic about human nature, he was especially convinced of the goodness of the universe as a whole. Society for Emerson was not entirely doom and gloom, but glued together by shared customs. When each member takes responsibility to reject customs or traditions that do not serve growth, then a new wave of society is born. He declares, “No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature” (21) and a great man is “to carry himself in the presence of all opposition, as if everything were titular and ephemeral but he” (21). In this sense, Emerson was an optimist about the innate goodness of the universe so long as humanity takes on the responsibility to transform society.
As evidenced by these passages, Emerson suggests that any reforming of the world necessarily begins with self-empowerment. Already possessed of wisdom, an individual’s nature is more sacred than law. One must thus trust one's own instincts and beliefs rather than over-relying upon texts, including religious scriptures imparted from without, as sources of truth. In other words, introspection, the audacity to look directly at the inner workings of one's own mind and imagine new possibilities for existence, enables the restoration of the world. This is the constitution of hope toward which Emerson turned in an effort to transform society.
Pressures of Conformity
Emerson’s optimism for humanity and society serves as inspiration for us to not only live a sublime existence, but an authentic experience filled with presence. Emerson reflects that in a corrupted society, man must conform to societal norms by studying a profession in which he has no interest in order to secure a well-paying job. The pressures of conformity must be overcome, he says.
At the same time, “The other terror that scares us from self-trust is our consistency; a reverence for our past act or word, because the eyes of others have no other data for computing our orbit than our past acts, and we are loath to disappoint them” (24). When man operates on fear, his tendency is to succumb to the pressures of conformity. Yet when he rejects societal norms, he feels a renewed sense of purpose: to improve society through self-reliance (i.e., relying on his own sensibility), despite the backlash he faces through misunderstanding of his motives.
So long as one does not succumb to external pressures of conformity, which have a habit of creeping in even the smallest of cracks in one's fortitude, then one is no longer haunted by worry. There being no worry, one lives fully in the present, unencumbered by the shackles of reputation. Fearing not what others think, one proceeds free of the pressures of conformity.
Nothing to Do
“A great soul has simply nothing to do” (24) reflects Emerson. Nothing remains to be done when one realizes one is already whole and complete, lacking nothing. Invoking an example of this authentic presence, Emerson proclaims that the roses under his window do not compare themselves with other roses. Like the rose that simply exists as it is, one unencumbered by the violence of comparison also embodies such presence. When attuned to this presence, one feels no need to compare oneself to others. Thus he lives comfortably and exuberantly, imbued with inner wealth and rich with contentment while others busy themselves with unfulfilling work, never satisfied and always craving more.
Emerson espouses that one should follow one's heart instead of chasing after external props to serve oneself. Man’s authentic self already knows that to truly serve himself is to follow his own guidebook, the same universal guide for all human minds. He reflects, “Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense; for the inmost in due time becomes the outmost” (19). It is up to each being to take herself where she needs to be in every aspect of life. One need not wait for someone else to save the world, or to become someone other than one’s present self in order to improve humankind. Rather, one begins immediately right where one is through relying upon one’s own wisdom.
Furthermore, one must bring speculative views into alignment with the mind of self-reliance. To do so, Emerson asks us to explore our creativity in everyday activities. Speculation allows us to plumb the depths of our inner being and explore habits, misconceptions, and self-doubts that otherwise remain hidden. For Emerson, one must uproot these obstacles in order to uncover one’s inherent being, which is imbued with self-trust. In doing so, one experiences less fear of engaging with others and the world, as one is able to express one’s authentic self.
Moreover, Emerson suggests that we should be original and creative through trusting our own instincts. Our originality contains infinite intelligence that can address the challenges of the future. Consequently, spontaneous thought and action will thereby create meaningful work conducive to bettering oneself and society. Thus, one comes to express one's full potential to effect goodness in the world around oneself.
At the End of the Day
At the end of the day, traditional doctrines can function as limitations—whether societal, religious, or otherwise—that restrict individuals from liberation. Rather than look to such doctrines for guidance, Emerson maintains that we must trust and rely on our own persons to arrive at our own insights. At the end of the day, would one rather be shackled by the temptingly warm embrace of society's acceptance, or released so that one may unshackle society from the illusion that has infected it?
We hope that by introducing Emerson’s philosophy in this way, we have helped open space for continuing discussions around the struggles of society. If we can recognize when collective delusions have taken over, we stand to interrogate them and thereby dispel their illusory hold over ourselves and others. A single person's efforts are unlikely to make an immediate, lasting change, but they can surely tip the dominoes and set the process in motion, casting a ripple effect over society that will hopefully reach others and inspire a similar sort of questioning of the status quo. Let us know your reflections below!
Emerson, Ralph W. “Self-Reliance.” In Self-Reliance and Other Essays. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum. New York: Dover Publications, 1993.
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