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.
It's more than that. Without self-reliance there are no saints, no sages, no givers of constitutions or leaders through the desert - only followers, lost in retainership - with their lord, absent - mis-remembering last commands.
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... 🤠
@@satnamo pride is just the other side of unworthiness, ts based on seeking validation and reassurance externally. The Self is prior to the mind that moves from one polarity to the other,, Its self validating, it gives witness to itself. So it cuts off the game of childish validation seeking. Think about it.. You have to be present before any experience is possible. The only reality you know is that you are... I am. You are common to anything you could ever know subtle or gross.. So you are the ultimate reality of your experience. So what are you? When Jesus said "I am one who gives witness to myself" the Pharisees all thought it was pride and blasphemy. Then the Christians said, of that's OK for jesus he's special. They both missed the point.
@@michaelmcclure3383 I am a spark of das infinite that is functioning through my body+mind-complex. I am that which was never born and will never die. I am that which wants to master congfuji!
"We are the only ones who can validate our Self." I'd argue, we are the worst, to do so - _living Gods_ and the one's who genuinely love us will grasp us _intuitively_ - while we are busy exchanging one social mask for another until we simply can't anymore and accept whatever substance is left.
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 👍🏻
I agree. I think it's helpful when you think of it as a rhetorical flourish. Emerson wasn't exactly a member of the Sex Pistols but I think for a sensitive nature the sentiment is quite liberating
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.
Haha happy to toy with your prejudices Peter! I think there's definitely a through-line to a lot of the New Age wankery but it's interesting to hold that side by side with Nietzsche's admiration. There's good quality water in the well although some of its fruits are questionable. I think the antisocial aspect is there but it's...it seems to me that its speaking to people who are too prone to fall into overvaluing the opinions of others. I can see how in the hands of someone who doesn't have these sort of neurotic thoughts it could be warped into a very antisocial worldview but I see it as a therapeutic call to disentangle yourself from the herd mentality so that you can give a greater gift to humanity
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.
Not at all I made a video about it here: ruclips.net/video/tr2PY4HTevQ/видео.html It's a lot from looking at his unpublished works - notebooks etc but also the references in his work
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.
While edge teenage : 3edgy5u bois might be tempted to be like "joker, right? we live in a society" in my opinion, they are still cowards since they complain but do not act differently, as they are afraid to take the leap and follow their path, they only envision it with an almost pornographic desire. ¿Can we take the path to self-relience, and be sure not to give up and "settle down" ? - such an American dilema, still with universal implications
To do what our heart tells us to do ? Should we be following our heart even? It's far too emotional and can lead us in the wrong direction. Therefore, the bible says: Trust in the lord in all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, which to me is also got to be one of the most ridiculous things to hear. I'm also little distrustful of society. I have a lot of empathy for people but i'm also indifferent at times, too may liars, and cheats in the world. x
@@TheLivingPhilosophy haha yeh there's no denying it! Have you got round to getting your scores again? Like I said before I'm still on top as seeker, then 2nd think it was orphan haven't got results to hand but sounds correct. X
Individualism is central to the mythology of American democracy. Self-reliance and individual responsibility is the mantra of the right wing today. Emerson is the intellectual precursor of all the modern day self-help gurus. The USA is a culture based on egoism and capitalism and Emerson contributes to it with his preaching. Emerson preaches egoism - like Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. Emerson makes me want to puke.
@@TheLivingPhilosophy Honestly, I can’t stand Emerson. If you take away the frothy rhetoric about “individualism” and examine his “ideas”, there is nothing much of substance there. He’s a preacher, not a deep thinker. And his moralistic preaching grates on my nerves.
@@stevenyourke7901 I think I can see how you got there. I can see how the flowery rhetoric that gets me jazzed up could also be off putting so I can understand your perspective a bit. The honest is always nice to hear
@@TheLivingPhilosophy Emerson’s rhetoric is very effusive and positive. Very “Isn’t life wonderful! Isn’t the universe awesome! Isn’t Man essentially divine!” Isn’t God everywhere, in everything!” He’s a romantic and always very life-affirming. In this, he resembles Nietzsche, reading him makes us feel exalted. But isn’t he really just exalting himself? Doesn’t he substitute his own nature for God? He has contempt for the mass of men, for democracy, for society as a whole. He disparages charity. “Are they my poor?” Sounds more like Ebenezer Scrooge or Ayn Rand than a Christian. Emerson was a great admirer of Carlyle who was another hero worshipper who had nothing but contempt for the great mass of mankind. I think the reason people enjoy reading Emerson, Carlyle, and Nietzsche is largely because they appeal to our own vanity, our sense of our own superiority, we identify ourselves with them and not with the great mass of humanity that they disparage. But perhaps we are really among the botched and bungled to borrow Nietzsche’s phrase. Hmmm.
@@stevenyourke7901 that's a great take Steven I don't think I've ever seen it that way before. I guess when I think about it I see us all as being the exalted individual and the mass of humanity. I see NIetzsche and Emerson as speaking to the individual in us all and seeing that the spark of brilliance in each of us is the thing that reorients the herd in us. We are all both herd and genius and there's a choice to be made on that level. So that's the way I'd look at it. But at the same time, there's privilege. There's a reason why most of our great artists and philosophers have come from the leisured class and so this call of the genius is only really answerable by those who are fated to have the means to do so. That's an undeniable part of the equation and shows up at least Emerson's Self-Reliance thesis as being incomplete and we might say something similar for a lot of Nietzsche's work. They cannot be the whole story. And yet just because they cannot speak universally to everyone the same I still find them to be of the highest value in pushing the boundaries of those outer limits of genius. The exalted enriches the rest of us.
You want to minimize tacks... find the best wind and maintain best Speed over Ground... one hundred tacks will leave your bowman dead from exhaustion. But if you're a sailor and 100 tacks are required... it will be a sleepless shift+ 😪 🙃
![Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson [Audiobook] #individualism #freedom #classicliterature](/img/1.gif)
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.
Great stuff Daniel I think that's a solid pithy summary of it! Funny to think of the 19th century genleman as a punk!!
It's more than that.
Without self-reliance there are no saints, no sages, no givers of constitutions or leaders through the desert - only followers, lost in retainership - with their lord, absent - mis-remembering last commands.
With new trust, new power will come.
Without Emerson, there is no Jack Kerouac, Jim Morrison, or Emily Dickinson. Emerson is the American Soul. Good show!
Glad to see Emerson! I love this essay, it's up there with one of my favorite texts of philosophy.
It's a gem right!
Das ultimate purpose of human existence is to manifest our divinity;
God is in us-
He is the light of my soul’s intuition
It will forever be one the best essays ever written!
I am a writer and Emerson and Thoreau are a big reason for that.
Superb.
Not only...so many books to read, but...so many books to reread.
I know right! The reading list never ends
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... 🤠
They are only getting better and better, thank you! The audio sounds great, what Mic are you using?
Oooh you think? Thanks Dissolutes! It's a Shure SM58 top quality mic a friend put me on to she's quite amazing I have to say!
Very cool. We are the only ones who can validate our Self.
Self-veneration is das ultimate form of pride
@@satnamo pride is just the other side of unworthiness, ts based on seeking validation and reassurance externally. The Self is prior to the mind that moves from one polarity to the other,, Its self validating, it gives witness to itself. So it cuts off the game of childish validation seeking.
Think about it.. You have to be present before any experience is possible. The only reality you know is that you are... I am. You are common to anything you could ever know subtle or gross.. So you are the ultimate reality of your experience. So what are you?
When Jesus said "I am one who gives witness to myself" the Pharisees all thought it was pride and blasphemy. Then the Christians said, of that's OK for jesus he's special. They both missed the point.
@@michaelmcclure3383 I am a spark of das infinite that is functioning through my body+mind-complex.
I am that which was never born and will never die.
I am that which wants to master congfuji!
@@satnamo master Congfugi? What haha
"We are the only ones who can validate our Self."
I'd argue, we are the worst, to do so - _living Gods_ and the one's who genuinely love us will grasp us _intuitively_ - while we are busy exchanging one social mask for another until we simply can't anymore and accept whatever substance is left.
you said "we" are putting out, I'm glad to hear you got a team. As always great content
Haha I may have been using the royal we there. We're not quite at team level just yet hopefully in the next year though!
Found this channel last night from your Emerson and Nietzsche video. Funny to see this video the next day. Love your content ❤️
What I seek is seeking me.
I know the cave that I fear to enter holds the treasure I seek.
No way! That is indeed some coincidence!
This book is truly Amazing 😻
Hello from the cold Russia and thanks for the great video, I have read this essay today, it's subline indeed.
My pleasure Seadhe thanks for watcching from rainy Ireland!
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 👍🏻
Nothing is more precious than:
1. Independent
2. Freedom
3. Joy
Thanks ThoughtTalks!
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.
I agree. I think it's helpful when you think of it as a rhetorical flourish. Emerson wasn't exactly a member of the Sex Pistols but I think for a sensitive nature the sentiment is quite liberating
Emerson 🤩
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.
Haha happy to toy with your prejudices Peter! I think there's definitely a through-line to a lot of the New Age wankery but it's interesting to hold that side by side with Nietzsche's admiration. There's good quality water in the well although some of its fruits are questionable. I think the antisocial aspect is there but it's...it seems to me that its speaking to people who are too prone to fall into overvaluing the opinions of others. I can see how in the hands of someone who doesn't have these sort of neurotic thoughts it could be warped into a very antisocial worldview but I see it as a therapeutic call to disentangle yourself from the herd mentality so that you can give a greater gift to humanity
Pretty readable? He's one of the great masters of the English language.
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.
Wonderful video man, thank you
My pleasure thanks for watching!
Everything I have I carry it me-
That is my happiness.
Where can I read it?
I don’t mean to sound confrontational when I ask, where does Nietzsche say he was influenced by Emerson?
Not at all I made a video about it here: ruclips.net/video/tr2PY4HTevQ/видео.html
It's a lot from looking at his unpublished works - notebooks etc but also the references in his work
Great stuff man I'll read this!
Do Martin it's an absolute gem!
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.
Ur mind is very interesting I’d love to get to sit down and conversate w u
Dont look in the mirror. Ego.
While edge teenage : 3edgy5u bois might be tempted to be like "joker, right? we live in a society" in my opinion, they are still cowards since they complain but do not act differently, as they are afraid to take the leap and follow their path, they only envision it with an almost pornographic desire. ¿Can we take the path to self-relience, and be sure not to give up and "settle down" ? - such an American dilema, still with universal implications
Good vid, but I originally clicked because I thought it said Thrust Myself 😶
To do what our heart tells us to do ? Should we be following our heart even? It's far too emotional and can lead us in the wrong direction. Therefore, the bible says: Trust in the lord in all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, which to me is also got to be one of the most ridiculous things to hear. I'm also little distrustful of society. I have a lot of empathy for people but i'm also indifferent at times, too may liars, and cheats in the world. x
There's that ol Orphan archetype showing up eh
@@TheLivingPhilosophy haha yeh there's no denying it! Have you got round to getting your scores again? Like I said before I'm still on top as seeker, then 2nd think it was orphan haven't got results to hand but sounds correct. X
@@123456789772951 still not done it yet but might dig it out this evening and see
Either you’re a genius or Emerson is.
Individualism is central to the mythology of American democracy. Self-reliance and individual responsibility is the mantra of the right wing today. Emerson is the intellectual precursor of all the modern day self-help gurus. The USA is a culture based on egoism and capitalism and Emerson contributes to it with his preaching. Emerson preaches egoism - like Nietzsche and Ayn Rand. Emerson makes me want to puke.
Haha interesting take Steven
@@TheLivingPhilosophy Honestly, I can’t stand Emerson. If you take away the frothy rhetoric about “individualism” and examine his “ideas”, there is nothing much of substance there. He’s a preacher, not a deep thinker. And his moralistic preaching grates on my nerves.
@@stevenyourke7901 I think I can see how you got there. I can see how the flowery rhetoric that gets me jazzed up could also be off putting so I can understand your perspective a bit. The honest is always nice to hear
@@TheLivingPhilosophy Emerson’s rhetoric is very effusive and positive. Very “Isn’t life wonderful! Isn’t the universe awesome! Isn’t Man essentially divine!” Isn’t God everywhere, in everything!” He’s a romantic and always very life-affirming. In this, he resembles Nietzsche, reading him makes us feel exalted. But isn’t he really just exalting himself? Doesn’t he substitute his own nature for God? He has contempt for the mass of men, for democracy, for society as a whole. He disparages charity. “Are they my poor?” Sounds more like Ebenezer Scrooge or Ayn Rand than a Christian. Emerson was a great admirer of Carlyle who was another hero worshipper who had nothing but contempt for the great mass of mankind. I think the reason people enjoy reading Emerson, Carlyle, and Nietzsche is largely because they appeal to our own vanity, our sense of our own superiority, we identify ourselves with them and not with the great mass of humanity that they disparage. But perhaps we are really among the botched and bungled to borrow Nietzsche’s phrase. Hmmm.
@@stevenyourke7901 that's a great take Steven I don't think I've ever seen it that way before. I guess when I think about it I see us all as being the exalted individual and the mass of humanity. I see NIetzsche and Emerson as speaking to the individual in us all and seeing that the spark of brilliance in each of us is the thing that reorients the herd in us. We are all both herd and genius and there's a choice to be made on that level. So that's the way I'd look at it. But at the same time, there's privilege. There's a reason why most of our great artists and philosophers have come from the leisured class and so this call of the genius is only really answerable by those who are fated to have the means to do so. That's an undeniable part of the equation and shows up at least Emerson's Self-Reliance thesis as being incomplete and we might say something similar for a lot of Nietzsche's work. They cannot be the whole story. And yet just because they cannot speak universally to everyone the same I still find them to be of the highest value in pushing the boundaries of those outer limits of genius. The exalted enriches the rest of us.
You want to minimize tacks... find the best wind and maintain best Speed over Ground... one hundred tacks will leave your bowman dead from exhaustion.
But if you're a sailor and 100 tacks are required... it will be a sleepless shift+ 😪 🙃