Emersons Impracticable Vision: The Limits of Self-Reliance for Fallible Humans

Abstract

An argument against Emerson’s Non-conformity: Self Reliance is Impracticable for a fallible man Humans are social beings and are driven by laws placed in society. Ralph Waldo Emerson is a transcendentalist, an epitome of individuality, self-reliance, and nonconformity providing an antidote against the social pressures of conformity. His essay on self-reliance is the most popular piece of work published in 1841 which emphasizes self-sufficiency as an ideal virtue for human nature. His writings on self-reliance manifest a journey of self-growth, self-discovery, and independence. The certainty of Emerson’s assertions manifests that the greatest aspect of morality is to be a nonconformist. Emerson’s beliefs and documentation have stirred unending debate on whether his contributions are practical or impractical over centuries. This essay will explore Emerson’s theme of self-reliance and prove it impractical for a fallible man. The modern individual has been conditioned by society to conform to its ideals. Contrary to societal stipulations, Emerson advocates for transcendence for an ideal man. He states that “Whoso must be a man must be, a nonconformist” illustrating that any ideal human must phase the adversity of life alone and rebel against barriers set by society in achieving their dreams. In his writings on self-reliance, he envisions an individual who stands alone against all odds in a harsh society disregarding the stipulations, norms, and beliefs in the societal structure. He believes that man has the responsibility to stand alone and does not need any validation from family, friends, or acquaintances to make their decision. He defines the greatness of a man as standing in independence, solitude, and loneliness in his utterance, “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think... It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who amid the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” Emerson’s ideology conforms to going against the masses and crowd and seeking own self in achieving stability and security. He believes nonconformists are creative individuals who define their worldviews amid ambiguity and uncertainty of reality. His perception of a man asserting self-reliance depicts a fight between an ideal man and society. By living for others and society, man cannot exploit their full potential and express their truth. Emerson’s argument on self-reliance and individualism is impractical. Rules are essential for any professional or social setting whether schools, organizations, or families (Parida and Gupta 305). In a society that has flow, people adhere to explicit and implicit rules to achieve their goals. Emerson does not explain the reason why an individual would face adversity in a stringent and scorned society without any apparent reason yet the replications of nonconformity are painful and teary. Individualism forces human nature to embark on a journey of isolation, contemplation, and solitude without a promise of ultimate success in his illustration, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail”. The future of individuality is not guaranteed yet the adversity of seeking it is thorny. People get comfort and reassurance from family, friends, and surroundings, yet Emerson stipulates man to stand alone. Society binds man with love through marriages, child and mother bonds, and friendships. These connections are the deepest desires that a human can enjoy. Losing what holds humanity,...