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

Name Professor Course Code Date 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 stipulat