Gavin Howe
In his 1841 essay Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses the laws that govern his life. He believed that nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your mind, suggesting that the only law that can be sacred to him is that of his own nature. Emerson encourages his readers to avoid conformity and false consistency, and instead to follow their instincts and ideas. He believed that genius comes not from the accumulation of facts, but from direct inspiration from the Oversoul, and that each person has a direct perception of the truth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Learning | Tuition and intuition |
| Transcendentalism | Genius comes from direct inspiration from the Oversoul |
| Sacred | Integrity of your mind |
| Law | That of his nature |
| Good and Bad | Transferable names |
| Right and Wrong | After his constitution |
| Society | Large societies and dead institutions |
| Individuality | Avoid conformity and false consistency |
| Self-Reliance | Power will bring fresh strength and robustness |
| Nature | A healing force |
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What You'll Learn
Transcendentalism
Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American transcendentalist philosopher, wrote the 1841 essay "Self-Reliance", which contains the most thorough statement of one of his recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas. Emerson believed in two kinds of "learning": tuition and intuition. Tuition is the kind of learning we generally associate with school. It comes from effort and absorbing knowledge from those around us. Intuition, on the other hand, is a direct perception that each of us has of the truth because we all participate in one "whole" - the "Oversoul". This is a basic principle of Transcendentalism - that genius comes not from the accumulation of facts, but from direct inspiration from the Oversoul. Emerson and other Transcendentalists believe that these perceptions are the only "Law" to which we are responsible.
Emerson's transcendentalist philosophy is evident in his statement that "No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature". By this, he means that we should look inward to find our destiny, not outward to what others expect or value. Emerson shows no respect for unnatural laws, and the only laws he will follow are those of nature. He argues that individuals must follow their souls, not conform to tradition or someone else's preset, conventional plan for their lives. In other words, to reach their highest potential, people must be nonconformists. Emerson further emphasises this point by stating that "What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think".
In "Self-Reliance", Emerson also discusses the impact of nature on people's perceptions and emotions. He states that "Nature always wears the color of the spirit", suggesting that nature reflects our mood. For example, we may feel sadder in the winter and renewed in the spring. In the woods, Emerson believes that people "cast off their years", returning to a childlike state of innocence and purity, free from the pressures of the outside world. This allows for a restoration of faith and reason, as well as a sense of calm and tranquility.
Emerson's transcendentalist philosophy encourages individuals to trust their instincts and ideas, rather than blindly conforming to societal norms and expectations. By valuing self-reliance and intuition, he believed that people could discover their true nature and reach their highest potential.
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Intuition
Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay, "Self-Reliance", explores the theme of individualism and the need to avoid conformity. Emerson believed that each person should follow their instincts and ideas, rather than conform to traditional or societal expectations. This belief is reflected in his statement, "No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature".
Emerson's concept of "nature" encompasses both an individual's inherent character and the natural world. By prioritising one's nature, Emerson suggests that we should look inward to discover our true selves and purpose, rather than seeking external validation or adhering to societal norms. This idea is further emphasised in his writing, where he encourages individuals to embrace their uniqueness and trust their instincts.
Emerson also recognised two types of learning: tuition and intuition. Tuition refers to the traditional form of learning acquired through education and social interactions. In contrast, intuition is a direct perception of truth, stemming from our participation in the "Oversoul", a fundamental concept in Transcendentalism. Transcendentalists, including Emerson, believed that genius arises not from the accumulation of knowledge but from direct inspiration from the Oversoul.
By valuing intuition, Emerson asserts that our perceptions and insights gained through this direct knowledge are the only "Law" we should uphold. This means that instead of solely relying on external sources of knowledge, we should also trust our innate understanding and insights.
Emerson's emphasis on self-reliance and intuition encourages individuals to embrace their unique nature and make decisions based on their internal truth. By doing so, he believed that people could achieve their highest potential and live authentically.
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Nonconformity
Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay "Self-Reliance" is a statement on the need for individuals to avoid conformity and false consistency and to follow their instincts and ideas. Emerson believed that genius comes from direct inspiration from the Oversoul, a transcendentalist principle that suggests we all participate in one "whole". Because of this direct contact with the Oversoul, Emerson believed that these perceptions are the only "Law" to which we are responsible.
Emerson's sacred law is "that of my nature". He believed that we should look inward to find our destiny, not outward to what others expect or value. Emerson's argument is that to reach their highest potential, individuals must follow their souls, not conform to tradition or someone else's preset, conventional plan for their lives. In "Self-Reliance", Emerson states that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, suggesting that only small-minded people would refuse to change a customary practice simply because "we have always done it that way". Emerson encourages a revolution in self-reliance, arguing that when individuals become self-reliant, their newfound power will bring fresh strength and robustness to their lives.
In "Nature", Emerson discusses the delight that the natural world often inspires. He believed that in nature, we become our true selves, and that nature reflects our mood. In the woods, we are removed from the pressures of the outside world, and we return to reason and faith. Emerson states that "nature always wears the colour of the spirit", suggesting that our perception of the natural world is coloured by our mood.
Emerson's philosophy encourages nonconformity and the pursuit of one's instincts and ideas. He believed that society limits individuality and that true self-reliance brings power and strength to one's life. By following our own nature and the laws that govern it, Emerson argues that we can reach our highest potential and live authentically.
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Nature
Ralph Waldo Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance" explores the theme of individualism and the importance of following one's instincts and ideas, rather than conforming to societal expectations. Emerson believed in two types of learning: tuition, or traditional knowledge gained through effort and absorption; and intuition, a direct perception of truth that comes from our participation in the "Oversoul," a transcendental concept. Emerson placed greater value on intuition, suggesting that genius arises from direct inspiration from the Oversoul, not the accumulation of facts. This leads him to conclude that the only "Law" to which we are responsible is that of our own nature.
Emerson's sacred law is "that of my nature," indicating his belief in the primacy of individual nature over external expectations or values. He emphasizes personal integrity and the importance of staying true to one's nature, regardless of societal norms or institutions. This idea is further reflected in his statement, "Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your mind." By prioritizing the integrity of one's mind, Emerson encourages individuals to rely on their own good sense rather than external authorities to determine what is right and wrong.
In his writings, Emerson often refers to nature as a transformative force. In "Nature," he discusses the delight and divinity inspired by the natural world. He suggests that nature has the power to make one feel young again, restore faith and reason, and create a sense of calm and tranquility. Emerson's famous quote, "Nature always wears the color of the spirit," highlights the connection between our inner world and the natural world around us. He believed that our perception of nature is coloured by our mood—we see the world through the lens of our individual beliefs and experiences.
Emerson viewed nature as a means to reconnect with our true selves. In the woods, away from the pressures of civilization, we can cast off societal expectations and return to our innate reason and faith. This idea is reflected in his statement, "In the woods, we return to reason and faith." By immersing ourselves in nature, we can find a sense of purity and clarity, free from the distractions and limitations imposed by society. Emerson's philosophy emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and nonconformity, encouraging individuals to follow their unique paths and trust their instincts.
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Self-reliance
Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1841 essay, "Self-Reliance", is a statement of one of his recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas. Emerson believed in two kinds of "learning": tuition and intuition. Tuition is the kind of learning we generally associate with school—it comes from effort and absorbing knowledge from those around us. Intuition, on the other hand, is a direct perception that each of us has of the truth because we all participate in one "whole"—the "Oversoul". This is a basic principle of Transcendentalism, which holds that genius comes not from the accumulation of facts, but from direct inspiration from the Oversoul. Because we have direct contact with this knowledge, Emerson and Transcendentalists believe that these perceptions are the only "Law" to which we are responsible.
Emerson's sacred law is "that of my nature". By this, he means that we should look inward to find our destiny, not outward to what others expect or value. He says that good and bad are but names, and the only right is what is after one's constitution, the only wrong what is against it. Emerson encourages individuals to follow their souls, not conform to tradition or someone else's preset, conventional plan for their lives. He suggests that when individuals become self-reliant, their newfound power will bring fresh strength and robustness to everything from their work to their family life.
Emerson also discusses the role of nature in self-reliance. He states that "Nature always wears the color of the spirit", meaning that our perception of the natural world is coloured by our mood. In the woods, we return to reason and faith, and without any distractions, we are able to see the world as it is in truth. Nature is a beautiful, healing force, and God speaks through it. Emerson believes that society limits individuality and can cause good people to become bad. He encourages individuals to speak the truth without being afraid of what others will say.
In conclusion, Emerson's sacred law is that of one's own nature and intuition. By following our instincts and ideas, rather than conforming to tradition or the expectations of others, we can achieve self-reliance and realise our true potential. Nature plays an important role in this process, as it allows us to reconnect with our true selves and see the world as it truly is.
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Frequently asked questions
Emerson says that the only law he can hold sacred is "that of my nature". He means that we should look inward to find our destiny, rather than outward to what others expect or value.
Emerson believed that "good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this". In other words, the only right is what is in line with one's nature, and the only wrong is what goes against it.
Emerson believed in two types of learning: tuition and intuition. Tuition is the kind of learning we generally associate with school. Intuition, on the other hand, is a direct perception of the truth because we all participate in one "whole" – the ""Oversoul".
Emerson believed that society limits individuality and often causes good people to become bad. He also thought that society's main purpose is to make people conform to its ideas.
Emerson believed that "whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist". In other words, to reach their highest potential, individuals must follow their souls, not conform to tradition or someone else's preset, conventional plan for their lives.
