Self-Reliance | Ralph Waldo Emerson

Self Reliance, Emerson’s classic essay is one of the gems of philosophical literature. Ralph Waldo Emerson was the leading light of the American Transcendentalism tradition and Self Reliance Emerson’s most famous spark.
I have been a fan of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s since my early days of philosophical exploration as a teenager and it’s interesting to read Emerson Self Reliance now in light of the passing of time and to see just how much it has influence my worldview and my perspective on philosophy.
With that in mind, I thought that in this week’s video it would be nice to explore this amazing essay and to make a Self Reliance summary and review video. Hope you enjoy it and if you haven’t read it before be sure to check out Emerson’s work at the link below!
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Self-Reliance full essay:
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⭐ Support the channel (thank you!)
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Audio Used:
1. Americana Aspiring — Kevin MacLeod
2. Drums of the Deep — Kevin MacLeod
3. Juniper — Kevin MacLeod
4. Anguish — Kevin MacLeod
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⌛ Timestamps:
0:00 Emerson - Self-Reliance
2:23 Greatness vs. Meanness
3:28 Self vs. Society
5:56 The Dead Past vs. the Eternal Present
8:48 Self-Reliance vs. Conformity
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#Emerson #thelivingphilosophy #selfreliance #philosophy #Transcendentalism

[danielmuresan]

I took notes from this video. My conclusion: "At last, Emerson basically represents the wild, the rebel, the outcast, the lone wolf, the punk, the hedonist, the free thinker".

An obvious inspiration for Nietzsche's philosophy.

[PhilosophyToons]

Glad to see Emerson! I love this essay, it's up there with one of my favorite texts of philosophy.

[owretchedman]

Without Emerson, there is no Jack Kerouac, Jim Morrison, or Emily Dickinson. Emerson is the American Soul. Good show!

[alllowercase]

Superb.
Not only...so many books to read, but...so many books to reread.

[Over-Boy]

It will forever be one the best essays ever written!

[FearlessBastard]

First know thyself and then you will start trusting. Love from Himalayas

[marcor]

Hi James. Great vídeo, great mind!
In my humble point of view, Émerson captures the balance between the need for structure and some conformity in a way to breed the conditions to ones express the aborígen... The balance between one and social its like Quantum Mechanics and General Relativity, action and thought and others. The key, I think, it's the in between, the mechanics of the Meta, as I call it, metanics and metanistic sistems. That is why I truly think.... Well, I don't Want to bore you. You're the best and thanks for making me feel so smart... 🤠

[BenKingOfMonkeys]

you said "we" are putting out, I'm glad to hear you got a team. As always great content

[WillWisdom]

I am a writer and Emerson and Thoreau are a big reason for that.

[sambitnes]

Found this channel last night from your Emerson and Nietzsche video. Funny to see this video the next day. Love your content ❤️

[dissolutes]

They are only getting better and better, thank you! The audio sounds great, what Mic are you using?

[seadhe]

Hello from the cold Russia and thanks for the great video, I have read this essay today, it's subline indeed.

[michaelmcclure]

Very cool. We are the only ones who can validate our Self.

[peterlynley]

And this is why I subscribe to your channel James; to have my ignorant prejudices challenged...lol. I have never read Emerson as I had always seen the Transcendentalists like him and Thoreau as precursors to the shallow New Age wankery of the 60's. I can't remember where I got this impression or how valid it is but even if this is true I should not blame a thinker for other people bastardizing their work 100 years later. He also sounds pretty readable so maybe I will give him a go. You presentation here makes his philosophy seem rather anti-social but I guess if it is seen on a psychological or spiritual level it might not be.

[adrianalexander]

Awesome. This concept of self reliance is definitely something people today need to hear. The call to greatness and rise above meanness is something I needed to hear. Good work as always 👍🏻

[satnamo]

Das ultimate purpose of human existence is to manifest our divinity;

God is in us—
He is the light of my soul’s intuition

[kevinrombouts]

I get the principle of living from within, but not against ignoring outer authority altogether. That is hubris. We are individuals not not only such.

[satnamo]

Everything I have I carry it me—
That is my happiness.

[projectmalus]

If a dual natured situation emerges perhaps it's a sign of a diminished point of view that oscillates between two states instead of relaxing and allowing more complexity - that beautiful third option - to emerge. Often people will have a good ideal to strive for, like feed the family, but also limit the way in which they can do that, which can be a bit slippery. Even better than just saying one should be self responsible at this point is to incorporate a deliberate third option like gardening that has self responsibility enhancing properties and you can eat it too.

[terrypriest]

who has more obedience than I masters me, though he should not raise his finger.

i am not sure if you got that right, i read that in the same spirit as your next quotation,

society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of every one of its members.
society is a joint-stock company, in which the members agree for the better securing
of his bread to each shareholder, to surrender the liberty and culture of the eater.

who has obedience, for most, is society, who masters me, though they not lift a finger,
i surrender my liberty in that way.

I need to re-read and watch for the terms Obedience and Faith to see if indeed that quote supports them.

On a second note, i believe Max Stirner wrote an entire volume about not being obedient, that i wonder if he read Emerson.