In Plato’s Apology, Socrates is on trial for his life because of the alleged accusations of him believing in false gods and teaching such doctrine and corrupting the youth through his teachings. Socrates addresses his accusers faulty allegations while addressing the Athenian people’s destructive gullibility in siding with his accusers opinions without searching out the evidence for themselves. Using this opportunity to not just defend himself but rather expose the underlining and core issues, Socrates calls for Athenians to seek to improve their inner life more than their exterior which requires a self-dependent mindset.
In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance, Emerson pleas people to cut the cord from their societal dependence in order to be their own person rather than a product of society. Both Socrates and Emerson believe that in order to live a well-meaning life, one must live an independent one by looking within for all the answers. Although I agree with Socrates and Emerson that many are too dependent on others to form their beliefs and that people should listen to themselves more, I disagree with their idolization of one’s soul and would argue that one’s soul is not as holy as they may think.
Sometimes outside help is necessary in propelling one into the right direction when journeying to become one’s own person. It’s apparent that too many people depend on others’ opinions. They don’t really know the truth because they either or too lazy or refuse to seek it out for themselves. That is why gossip can have such a impactful effect on others even if it was proven to be false. The bases for Socrate’s trial was stemmed from rumors. Socrates addresses this weak basis saying, “their presence of knowledge has been detected [… ] they have filled your ears with their loud and inveterate calumnies” (198).
Socrates points out how his accusers have persuaded the people of athenian through their eloquent speeches, blinding them on questioning the actual validity of the content. I agree that many people default to accept the reputation or rumors told by others as true. This is a sad reality and can often misrepresent people and robs them of their opportunity to be seen as who they truly are. Another downfall of dependency on others is the tendency for people to imitate others. When one relies on the opinion of others, many steer clear of thinking otherwise for fear of offending people and being shunned as an outcaste.
Ralph Waldo Emerson describes this catastrophe stating, “envy is ignorance [… ] imitation is suicide” (2). Emerson reveals the core damaging effect of trying to become like another, it kills oneself. I agree that one should not exhaust and waste one’s life aspiring to be a clone of another, for it suffocates their own identity and causes them to lose their own soul in the process. People should quit the expedition of taking on another’s form and risk being oneself. Speaking one’s own mind can be the most liberating decision one can make.
However, one’s vulnerability creates a higher chance of being misheard and or rejected. But should the fear of man’s opinion stop one from speaking their mind? Emerson certainly did not think so. He proclaims, “to be great is to be misunderstood” (7). One’s greatness should not be measured on one’s relevance or level of agreeableness, rather it should be seen as one who voices their truth despite the consequences of putting oneself out there. I agree that one should not always look for the approval of others or to speak what is easy on the ears of others if it means compromising on what one is really trying to articulate.
If what one believe goes against the cultural norm, don’t let the fear of society grip one from speaking what is one’s heart. Without great risk there cannot be great reward. Some of the greatest men made there way into the history books by ignoring the world’s plea for silence and courageously voiced their thoughts on the world and what they believe needed to be changed. Emerson stated, “The highest men [… ] spoke not what men but what they thought” (1). Those who truly are memorable and world changers are those that listened and vocalized the feelings and concerns in their soul.
I agree that men did not become famous by playing it safe or being polite, but by speaking up when their hearts beckoned them to. One such example well known is the account of Jesus Christ’s life. Everything he spoke went against what the world said: If a person cursed you, you curse him back, but Jesus said love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Being oneself does not mean one will never have opposition. Many if not all noteworthy humans were ridiculed, mocked, and even killed for their beliefs. But as Socrates put it, “I cannot sell my liberty and my power, to save their sensibility” (9).
Speaking one’s mind comes with its hardships, but being silent is perhaps more deadly. I agree that one should not fear man and cater to their sense of peace for the sake of drowning out one’s own beliefs, even if it means facing persecution or even death. Living for the sake of not offending others is not living at all, but a slow form of suicide where one’s personal beliefs are being ebbed away. Before one seeks to obtain what is on the outside one should seek to improve what is in the inside, for treasures may leave or break but one’s soul is a companion one can never shake.
Undoubtedly Socrate’s final statement to the people of Athens is to fix one’s soul before anything else. I agree that the most important things one could ever obtain are the virtues of the soul that will never pass. Cleaning the mess of what is on the inside is so much more important than cleaning up what is on the outside. For instance, a man could own the most expensive and beautiful car and washes it weekly, but if he neglects to take care of the inside, trashing it, and fails to maintain it, changing its oil, what is the point of him maintaining its appearance if he forgets the basic maintenance of it to keep it running?
Several people have, especially in the event of an emergency, rely on their instincts and feelings rather than a procedure or textbook answer, saving many and acting quickly. Emerson believes that people must rely and trust their instinct above all else and that people define what is good and bad for themselves. He elevates the soul’s promptings over any other method for reasoning or rationale. I disagree with Emerson on this point: One’s instinct or feelings are not always dependable or proven right. If everyone was to abide by what they felt like doing, we would have world that lacks law and order.
I wonder if Emerson would really condone his message to the pedophiles, the murderers, the thieves. Just because it may feel right to someone doesn’t mean it is right. There needs to be a standard for morality that proceeds the soul. Everyone has a conscience, a constant voice that speaks from within. Socrates and Emerson believe that this voice should not only be heard and acted upon but should be treated like a god and obey its every call and demand. Emerson says, “god is within”. Emerson sees the soul as the deity of all life. I disagree that man is god, that the soul is god.
The soul is compromised of the mind, will, and emotions. One would be quite deceived to believe that feelings are stable and should always be acted upon. The mind can be easily corrupted by or distorted by one’s life experiences, personal traumas, or by one’s environment that could have fogged the soul’s ability and mind to think clearly. One’s willpower can only go so far. I believe that man has limited knowledge, strength, and wisdom. The soul needs discipline and order, that is why one requires outside help. Emerson and Socrates believe that people should look to oneself instead of outside because society doesn’t help.
However, I believe they and many come to this conclusion because they believe the extent of help only reached to other people or nature. They have failed to see there is a greater source of wisdom: God. But my definition of God is a lot different from Emerson’s and Socrate’s: Mine is the God of Heaven and all living things, theirs is their soul, the voice from within. Emerson condemns those who pray, for it requires one to depend on someone else, instead of looking to oneself to improve. However, prayer is a way of communicating with God, and through this communication, one can learn truth and morality, and the greatest source of wisdom.
Human’s wisdom only can reach so far, that is why one must look outside for greater wisdom. In a society where self-dependence is nearly non-existence, there is a desperate cry to become less dependent on society for information and identity. People rely on others opinions and beliefs, silencing their own views and convictions, losing their individuality. However, thinking that one’s soul is the source of all truth and depending on it for all the answers is the greatest deception. The greatest sense of freedom can come from not being self-dependent or society-dependent, but dependent on a source greater than oneself and others.
