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Agrarianism

Thomas Jefferson, after observing the agrarian society has made the observation that

“Those who labour in the earth are the chosen people of God, if ever he had a chosen people,

whose breasts he has made his peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue”. Thomas

Jefferson was an anti-federalist writer and was someone who has this belief that people who are

engaged in yeoman farming are people of high spirits and it was because of the efforts of these

farmers that it was possible to gain complete political and economic independence. By making

this observation the writer was trying to signify the values and ethos that farming develops

within an individual. The term agrarianism is basically a social philosophy as per which the

farming as a way of life has the potential to follow the ideal values of the society. Agrarianism

believes that the various works and lifestyle that are associated with the agricultural life are very

important to bring out the best in personal, political social context of human beings (Walker). As

per the conservative agrarian writers farming as a livelihood brings with it various characters in a

human being like it helps a person to become financially independent, it makes a person

hardworking and helps to make a person as someone who can raise his voice against oppression

and tyranny. The concept of Agrarianism is best described by M. Thomas Inge as a way of life

in which considers farming is the only way to attain self sufficiency and economic freedom. M.

Thomas Inge was a very prolific writer and as someone who has the authority over the populist
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cultures noted in his observation that the agrarianism considers urbanity, capitalism and

industrialization as the main reason for the spread of oppression and tyranny in the world.

Further unmindful Industrialization has made the humans weak both socially and politically and

thus they are able to raise their voice against the oppression that they face on the hands of the

industrialists. Agrarianism believes that the values and the ethos of the agricultural society is the

ideal way for a human being to live with dignity and self respect. The writer further says that it

is only a farmer who preserves his cultures and traditions and always places his family, place and

religion above the material gains. These values acts as a check to the selfishness of the industrial

culture which is fragmented and does not give respect to the traditions and cultures which are

part of the human society. Inge believed that the farming as a way of life helps humans to

establish direct contact nature which helps them to get closer to the god. The concept of the

Agrarianism has its roots in the ancient European and the Chinese cultures. In the Chinese

culture of Confucianism it was a belief that the most productive member of the society is the

farmer who commanded immense respect in the society while the merchants who were in the

business of making money were looked down upon. The principles of the Chinese agrarianism

greatly influenced the French intellectuals who advocated the culture of the French agrarianism

which was called the Physiocracy. The ideas and the principles of the French Physiocracy

became the basis of the modern agrarianism that is followed in America and in Europe. The

president of the United States, Thomas Jefferson was a famous agrarian. He used to consider that

the most valuable part of the society is the farmers and they are the true republicans.

Another famous writer who was a vociferous defender of the agrarian concept was John

Taylor. In his work Arator, which were published as newspaper articles in the year 1803, Taylor

made several recommendations to improve the conditions of the agriculture sector of America
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through experiments, analysis and observations. Taylor believed that the agrarianism is the only

way to get the political independence and agreed with the concept of Jefferson that the agrarian

society is the “Mother of all wealth” and “guardian of liberty”. Taylor further went on to say

that the best form of employment that one can find is farming. To support his statement he gave

various justifications like farming brings originality in the nature of a human being and it is a

profession which continuously challenges the mind. He further adds that farming is the way for

an eternal life as it helps to feed the hungry people, provides clothes to the people and gives

drinks to the thirsty people. He stresses that the farming is the only way to make a complete

man.

With the advent of the modern societies there have been several proponents of the

agrarian life who have different political patronage but all the different proponents share a

common dissatisfaction towards the modern principles that guides the current social, political,

economical and the religious structures. The consumerist attitude of the modern industrialized

world is the main area of the criticism for the modern agrarians. Some of the modern critique of

the Enlightenment scientific rationality like the Wendell berry , John Crowe Ransom and Allan

Tate have resisting the modernity and propagating the ethos and values of the farming life as an

alternative to the modern life. The modern agrarians has also doyen the form of the traditionalist

conservatives (Sentell). They consider that the industrialization promotes irreligion in the world

and has led to extinguishing of the various forms arts and culture from the society. They also

charges industrialism as the sole reason for the degradation of the relationship between the

humans and has eliminated the rural and aristocratic culture. But many conservatives believe

that the agrarian philosophy is an illiberal and impractical concept that is against everything that

the modern society offers. Thus it can be said that the agrarianism is a concept which shows the
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differences between the social, political, economical and cultural concepts that helps humans to

flourish and highlights the differences in the conservative thoughts. The anti-modern agrarian

thoughts promote the family friendly and traditional culture to minimize effects of the

industrialism and consumerism. The agrarian philosophy revolves around creating a harmony

between the local nature, people, native culture and local economies. The five principle values

of agrarian system are land, beauty, community, food and work.

ANALYSIS

Wendell Berry is an anti- modern agrarian who believes that the mass industrialism along

with the science treats human beings and other objects as interchangeable things. The writer tries

to stress at the point that industrialism and consumerism has diminished the value of the human

life. Berry is one of the most influential agrarian who writes novels, poets and is also a critic.

The writings of Berry show that his thoughts are inclined towards conservatism. In his writings

Berry remains humble towards the nature and the universe and critics the modern notions of

human progress ('Grounded Vision: New Agrarianism And The Academy'). He is also very

critical about the influence of the modern technology on the human lives. I completely agree

with his views. We are surrounded by various technologies which even though are making our

lives easier but we are also getting over dependent on such technologies which disconnects the

humans from its nature, culture and the society. Berrry points out the fact that the people have

given their lands to the large agricultural corporations for some monetary gains but they fail to

understand the fact that if these large corporations have a control over the lands then they will

also control the wealth. This will make the general public solely dependent upon these
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companies for the basic human needs like the food, clothes etc. Berry further says that the big

companies are very vulnerable to many kinds of natural disasters and calamities which can

completely destroy them and if such a thing happens then humans will face severe consequences

thus Berry rightly stresses to create local self sufficient economies. This will help the wealth and

the land to be equally distributed among the people. Berry considers that land is a gift of god

and thus every human should have equal right over the land. As per him it would be wrong if the

world’s land resources are concentrated in hands of few people while other suffers. As per the

author the agrarian society will have better harmony among the neighbors as compared to the

people living in the urban space. I think the author has pointed towards a right since urban life is

very fast paced there is no time for the people to interact with each other which has created a

segregation in the society. The author has blamed the current economic policies which put

emphasis more on industries, for the bad state of farmers in United States. The writer says that

the increase of the economic burden over farmers have destroyed their values like caring for the

land, having a healthy family and community culture. These values are the basis of the agrarian

thoughts. The author says every town should be self sufficient and should have farms and local

agricultural that are run by the local communities themselves. I truly agree that the cities should

be more self reliant as it will help the local culture and traditions to flourish and will help in the

sustainable development of the human beings. The author final words that agrarians have to

raise their voice and take actions is rightly justified as the industrialism and mindless

consumerism attitude of the humans is not only threatening to destroy the traditional cultures but

also threatening to destroy the earth’s ecosystem.

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Works Cited

'Grounded Vision: New Agrarianism And The Academy'. Choice Reviews Online 49.05 (2012):
49-2625-49-2625. Web.

Sentell, Charles Julius. 'Beyond The Future To The Past: Notes Toward A Radical Agrarianism'.
AMQST 7.1 (2010): n. pag. Web.

Walker, Melissa. 'Contemporary Agrarianism: A Reality Check'. Agricultural History 86.1

(2012): 1-25. Web.