What did E.M Foster Actually Believe?

 The essay, “What I Believe” is basically E.M Foster's idea of a world which is based on the principles of individualism, tolerance, and democracy. He argues against institutionalised structures of the society as well as political and religious institutions, while supporting ideas of individual conscience of people and interpersonal communication. It is remarkable, while Forster’s ideas remain rather  remain more relevant in today's modern world, especially, these values as the freedom of an individual and social justice.

One of the principal concepts of What I Believe is the critique of Forster to the concepts of monocausal conformism, particularly religious and conventional morality. He despises dogmatism of conventional religious systems of governance that thrust pre-established doctrines onto people. However, Forster believes in the opinion that everyone can believe whatever he wants for no one has the right to define the limitations of knowledge as long as the actions that result from those beliefs do not cause harm to others. This is a clear contrast to the rigidity of so many institutional frameworks in which the pursuit of truth is reduced to identifying only one path and one truth.


Furthermore, E.M Forster does discusses the significance of human relationships and the focus is on love and sympathy. He specially emphasises the need for personal relationships and apposes them to institutional relation which are more bureaucratic and power or compliance based. This saga links up well with the rest of his theory of utilitarianism which is more centered  on individualism and the conscience as a basis for ethical behaviour. 


Moreover, these personal values, Forster raises the question of societal structure and rulership. He praises democracy over authoritarianism, though he discourages democracy as practiced today. Forster can consider true democracy as one in which a population will have the freedom to live and reason as he or she desires. But he also gets anxious stating that mass democracy, as of today, is likely to result in leveling of the masses and extinguishing of individualism. He proposes the system of democratic aristocracy, when only those capable of profound thinking and caring about others rule the society while remaining loyal to democratic principles, still, regarding persons as individuals.


To conclude, Forster’s essay presents an appeal to sounds the totem of a civilisation of liberty, rationally more flexible, and humane than it is promoted by strict doctrinaire and authoritarian social systems. To his mind, morality should emanate from within each person without outside interference by religious or political authority. Thus, it can be said that What I Believe calls for democracy to be more than just tyranny of the majority, the intolerance of differences to respect them, reluctance of independence, and the worthiness of fellowship.

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