Final answer:
Henry David Thoreau's 'Walden' promotes the values of simplicity and self-reliance, as he details his time living in a self-built cabin in nature, focusing on the essentials of life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Walden, written by Henry David Thoreau, is a reflection on simple living in natural surroundings. The work promotes the values of simplicity and self-reliance as essential to personal development and spiritual discovery. Thoreau elucidates this philosophy by sharing his experiences while living in a self-built cabin at Walden Pond where he sought to understand the necessities of life by eliminating the superfluous. He advocates for living simply and being self-sufficient, building his own shelter, growing his own food, and generally minimizing reliance on material possessions.
The notion of Walden stands in contrast to consumerism, urbanization, and the race for technological advancement, which are often associated with complexity, dependency, and the loss of personal freedom and self-awareness. Instead, it aligns more with the transcendentalist view of self-reliance, and distancing oneself from the undue influence and dependence on society's materialistic demands.