In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his vision of the individual, a man dependent on himself and refusing to conform to norms and social expectations. The individual, according to Emerson, stands alone against the tide of society, listening to his own heart and ignoring the thoughts of others. It rejects any interpersonal bond that unites humanity within families, friendships, and nations, arguing that man's only true support is himself. The true individual will follow his or her own path and will not look to the past or to other people for help; he will be a monument to himself and will exclude all ideas that are not his own. Emerson considers this individual to be an ideal man, but any man who actually follows his advice will suffer extreme consequences, as will society as a whole. Each of Emerson's most valued individual qualities goes against human nature, forcing people to leave their comfortable lives and embark on an arduous journey for little or no apparent reward. Although Emerson valiantly argues for individualism, his arguments instead create a compelling reason to conform to the dictates of society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAccording to Emerson, the individual must by definition stand alone against society, but he fails to explain why the individualism is reason enough to face society. contempt for society. Emerson states, “Whoever wants to be a man must be a nonconformist,” illustrating that anyone who wants to become a true human being as well as an individual must rebel against the societal structure. America, as a land of diversity and promise, glorifies "the individual" and praises the privileged few who can go their own way, but in reality very few people choose to distance themselves from society because, as Emerson admits, “for non-conformity.” the world whips you with its discontent." Humans, as social creatures, are driven by their very nature to seek comfort from other humans, and social status plays important physiological and psychological roles in each individual. Thus, by placing an individual in an inferior social position, Emerson condemns all individuals to unhealthy and unfulfilling lives. The downsides of nonconformity are obvious, since the majority of people do not like individuals who do not fit in. the organization of society, but the advantages do not appear so easily Emerson, when explaining the greater value of the individual, states: "It is only when a man rejects all foreign support and remains. alone that I consider it strong... Is not a man better than a city Modern America embraces the idea of ​​community and offers many areas of life in which the individual alone n? would not have the capacity to succeed better than a group of individuals. Although men can be independent, they must also depend on each other for essential human functioning, unlike Emerson's ideal, isolated individual. While human love and the bonds between families and friends are central to most people's lives, Emerson argues that all of these bonds with others must be reduced in order to become an individual. Although he does not entirely reject other humans, he downplays their importance. He explains: “I will strive to feed my parents, to provide for my family, to be the chaste husband of one wife, but I must maintain these relationships in a new and unprecedented way,”arguing that one's own needs and desires should take precedence over one's relationships with others. Without strong family ties, people lose a lot of comfort and reassurance, and most people cannot separate themselves from the love of others to be alone. Emerson believes that all emotion is subordinate to Truth and therefore "truth is more beautiful than the affectation of love." To become an individual, one must place truth above comfort and love, but giving rise to these emotions is not an easy task. In all cultures, in all eras, ties have developed to connect individuals within families; the bonds of marriage, of mother, father and child, almost always based on love, or at least on a semblance of love. Love is often associated with hope and is a counterbalance to the loneliness and despair that fills the human experience. By depriving humans of their ability to enjoy and be comforted by mutual affection, Emerson argues that true individuals cannot truly participate in the human experience. humanity. Although Emerson is able to "run away from father, mother, wife, and brother when my genius calls," this thought goes to the root of human emotion, for family ties are the deepest bonds and the strongest that humans enjoy. By placing himself as more important than his relationships with others, he reveals a selfish motive and a compelling reason why individualism should not be embraced; the path to individualism is lonely and can never share the warmth of another human being. By Emerson's logic, becoming a nonconformist results in losing the ability to influence change in the world, because only knowledge of the past can advance the future. Emerson emphasizes: “Dwell on yourself; never imitate,” showing his absolute belief in the importance of the individual over all others. He disregards the testimonies of others in the past and believes that men should not use the knowledge of others, but rather discover the truths themselves. “Shakespeare will never be constructed through the study of Shakespeare,” Emerson asserts, demonstrating that the study of older thoughts and works cannot bring enlightenment. However, without access to ancient forms of knowledge or philosophy, humanity is reduced to a pitiful existence, without any form of art or comfort. Language is often cited as a distinctly human ability, and one of the main reasons for its success was the longevity of the ideas it ensured. Rather than having to make the same mistakes with each generation, language allowed individuals to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, and as each generation thus progressed, humanity moved further away from a primitive existence. Furthermore, he considered that new technologies contributed to paralyzing humanity, because “[his man’s] notebooks alter his memory; his libraries overload his mind; the insurance office increases the number of accidents.” In recent years, however, technological advances have increased the knowledge available to man and contributed to the development of new theories. All modern sciences, from biology to physics, depend on new technologies, and the sharing of ideas has led to new developments and theories. According to Emerson, “it will happen for a time that the student will find that his intellectual power has been developed by the study of his master's mind,” but the student will fail to continue learning. Emerson often gives Plato as a source of wisdom, praising his works and genius, but almost all early.