Self-Reliance

sheliah myles

period 2

10/16/08

self-reliance

Ralph Emerson is a man with great logic. his use of historical people to support his beliefthat what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men. his reference to men likeMoses, Plato, Milton that makes him creditable for logos. because, by using these men, he lets the readers know that this author actually knows what he's talking about. Emerson pushes the limited mind just another step forward. phrases like " Speak your latent conviction, and it shall be the universal sense." makes you think, what does he mean by this statement. then Emerson makes you re-read what you just read, and then you realize that it was just another metaphor for the statement prior. Honestly i don't agree with his point of view, however his diction and syntax is very persuasive. In one of his paragraphs it states that "every heart vibrates to that iron string" and "great men have always done so, and confided themselves childlike to the genius of their age, betraying their perception that the absolutely trustworthy was seated at their heart, working through their hands, predominating in all their being. And we are now men..." however i still disagree with his belief. what might make you happy might not make me happy, so how can it influence all men. the human mind, body , and soul is uniquely designed to like what ever it likes, no one else's opinions should justify what makes me happy. Even though the mind is created pure form birth, life changes a person so yes, they should rely of themselves, but i don't believe that they should rely on others. to respond to his statements about God, God created us exactly how he wanted us, so how can any one else make us happy?