Katerina's Reviews > Self-Reliance and Other Essays

"Self-Reliance" is an essay that captures the independent spirit behind many Americans, but it overlooks the sinfulness of people. Emerson calls on each person to listen to his own intuition rather than society, membership organizations, or religious traditions. He believes that each person can achieve his greatest genius by listening to himself.

In the middle section of the essay, Emerson presents his arguments for his belief. The support seems to largely be based on a faulty understanding of God. He believes that God speaks directly to people's souls, disclosing all truth. If people would tune their intuition, they would touch the divine. He goes on to claim that praying for help is false prayer. He also dismisses the Bible as a source of God's revelation. These ideas ignore the Bible's teachings on the sinfulness of man and holiness of God. They also ignore the Bible's teachings on prayer and warnings about false teachers.

At first this essay appeals because it rings true to the ideas taught in America. However closer evaluation shows the ideas are not true to Scripture. The essay is worth reading for the perspective it offers on American self-reliance, but it should be read with caution and not blindly accepted.