Lately I have been reading
this book Self Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This book is about
transdentalism. Transcendentalism is an American literary, political, and
philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century, centered around Ralph
Waldo Emerson. In the book he Emerson also talks about Henry Thoreau, who is a
strong believer of transdentalism. People who believe in transdentalism are
believers in nature. They believe that schools, institutions, and especially
governments are very bad for society and mankind. In the book its also explains
that all of these governments and schools is a violation of peoples rights.
Emerson was such a peaceful and religious person. He lived in the woods with
nature, because he did not believe in living cities, because they are
controlled by the government. Emerson hates the government because he thinks
that they take advantage of the citizens, and the citizens are easily fooled by
them. In the book it also had a short essay from Thoreau. Thoreau believed
exactly what Emerson did about governments and schools. Thoreau used an example
of the Mexican-American war. In order to get the public to favor the war, the
government tricked the citizens that favoring the war would bring 3 times more
land (It brought Only New Mexico and part of Texas, not 3 times more then the
U.S), more economic stability etc. They lied, the economy actually went south
and policies were not so great. So basically the authors intent is saying that
everyone should stop believing and trusting governments and go against them.
The organizational pattern the author used mostly cause and effect. My reaction
after was skeptical. Although Emerson is right, I will still believe in the
government and continue to support them.
