In Response to "Self Reliance-Ralph Waldo Emerson" (Ian Byrne)
I disagree with the post stating that "Self-Reliance" would have been an interesting place for the self help movement to start. The whole notion of self help goes against the whole idea put forth in the essay "Self Reliance." The whole idea of "Self Reliance" is that you should rely on yourself. At the beginning of the essay there is a quote that says, "Ne te quaesiveris extra, that means, "do not look outside yourself." Although self help is called "self help," really what it is are other people deemed "experts" writing step by step guides on how to make yourself feel better/less inadequate. I think that "Self Reliance" is more of a call for individuals to find motivation within themselves to do great things. What those great things are? Emerson doesn't know, only you do. I feel that Emerson doesn't think of his works as guides, but rather calls to action. For example "The Poet" doesn't instruct on how to write a pretty poem, but rather to find some inspiration in the world to write a pretty poem.
Ben Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" is a self help guide because it seems that Franklin writes with the motive to help people through step by step guides.
Comments
I agree with Ben Franklin's way of self help for its towards the majority of the public which motivates people into steps that are apparent in their daily living. Thus "Poor Richard's Almanack" is a good tool for the majority beacuse within are some sort of advice that all could take. If we put light on Emerson's Self-Reliance we come to understand that this needs motivation. What i disagree with is the fact that Emerson says inner knowledge is higher than that which came through the sense and thus one should not go against ones own nature. This can't be done first without the knowledge acquired through the senses because the person prior to the knowledge of the senses really can be compared to a youth who is at the begining of the road of life thus needing some sort of knowledge to know what lies ahead. At last Self-Reliance seems to me the sphere of the intellectuals while the advice in "Poor Richard's Almanack" is for the greater public
Posted by: Abdualahi | May 12, 2009 1:51 AM
Self Help Vs. Self-Reliance
I agree with the fact that self-help is something that others help you reach by either their understanding or their guide. Thus it seems that the self help that Ben Franklin talks about is more fitting and tangible for the public than Emerson's Self-Reliance. This is due to the fact that majority of the people can implement it first hand, while it takes first an understanding of the physical knowledge. This seems to be higher in getting to for a common man than the self help of Ben Franklin. Thus Emerson Self-reliance gets deep into philosophy while the self help of Franklin doesn’t need much thought into it. Though both of these advices by these great men are helpful, one serves the greater public while one is for the elites.
Posted by: Abdulahi Hussein | May 12, 2009 2:18 AM