In Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson describes his vision of the individual, a man dependent on himself and refusing to conform to social standards and expectations. The individual, according to Emerson, alone opposes the wave of society, listening to his own heart and neglecting the thoughts of others. It rejects any interpersonal connection that holds humanity together in families, friendships, and nations, arguing that man's only true support is himself. The true individual will follow his 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 every idea that is not his. Emerson envisions this individual as an ideal man, but any man who truly follows his advice will suffer extreme consequences, as will society as a whole. Each of Emerson's most prized 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 courageously advocates 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay According to Emerson, the individual must by definition stand alone against society, but he fails to explain why individualism is a sufficient reason to address the problem of contempt of society. Emerson states, “He who would be a man, must be a nonconformist,” illustrating that every person who wants to become a true human being as well as an individual must rebel against the social structure. America, as a land of diversity and promise, glorifies the "individual" and praises those select few who can follow their own path, but in reality very few people choose to distance themselves from society because, as Emerson admits, "out of nonconformity" . the world whips you with its displeasure." Human beings, as social creatures, are driven by their very nature to seek reassurance from other human beings, and social status plays important physiological and psychological roles in each individual, thus placing a individual in an inferior social position, Emerson is condemning all individuals to unhealthy and unsatisfactory lives. The disadvantages of nonconformity are obvious, since most people do not like individuals who do not fit into the organization of society, but the advantages. they do not appear so easily. Emerson, when explaining the greater value of the individual, maintains: "it is only when a man puts off all foreign support and stands alone that I see him strong... Is not a better man than a city?" Modern America embraces the idea of ​​community and offers many areas of life in which the individual alone would not have the ability to succeed better than a group of individuals. Although men can be independent, they must also depend on each other 'other to essential human functioning, in contrast to Emerson's isolated, ideal individual. While human love and bonds between families and friends are central to most people's lives, Emerson argues that all such bonds with other people must be reduced to become an individual. While he doesn't completely reject other humans, he downplays their importance. He explains, "I will try to feed my parents, to support my family, to be a chaste husband to a wife, but I must fill these relationships in a new and unprecedented way," arguing that his needs and desires must take precedence about his relationships with others. Without secure ties to family, people lose a lot of comfort andreassurance, and most people cannot separate themselves from the love of others to be alone. Emerson believes that every emotion is subordinate to Truth, and therefore "truth is more beautiful than the affectation of love." To become an individual, one must put truth before comfort and love, but giving up these emotions is no easy task. In all cultures, in all historical periods, bonds have developed to unite individuals in families; marital bonds, of mother, father and child, almost always based on love, or at least on a pretense of love. Love is often paired with hope and provides a counterbalance to the loneliness and despair that fill the human experience, and by depriving humans of their ability to enjoy and be comforted by each other's affection, Emerson argues that true individuals do not they can truly participate in human life. humanity. While Emerson may be able to "shun father, mother, wife, and brother when my genius calls me," the thought itself strikes at the root of human emotions, for family bonds are the deepest and strongest connections that beings humans enjoy. By placing himself more important than his relationships with others, he is revealing 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. According to Emerson's logic, becoming a nonconformist means losing one's ability to influence change in the world, because only with knowledge of the past can one advance into the future. Emerson emphasizes: "insist on yourself; never imitate", showing his absolute belief in the importance of the individual over all others. He ignores the evidence of others in the past and believes that men should not use the knowledge of others, but rather discover the truths for themselves. “Shakespeare will never be created by the study of Shakespeare,” states Emerson, thus proving that the study of the most ancient thoughts and works cannot lead to enlightenment. Without access to the most ancient forms of knowledge or philosophy, however, humanity is reduced to a pitiful existence, without any form of art or comfort. Language is often cited as a uniquely human ability, and one of the main reasons for its success was the continuity of ideas it ensured. Instead of having to make the same mistakes with each generation, language allowed individuals to pass on knowledge to the next generation, and with each generation thus advanced, humanity took another step forward from primitive existence. Furthermore, he viewed new technologies as helping to cripple humanity, as "[his man's] notebooks impair his memory; his libraries overload his wits; the insurance office increases the number of accidents." In recent years, however, technological advances have increased the knowledge available to man and have 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 pupil will find that his intellectual power has increased by the study of the mind of his teacher", but the pupil will not be able to continue learning. Emerson often cites Plato as a source of wisdom, praising his works and genius, but almost all of Plato's early works depended on his mentor, Socrates, and even in his later works Plato uses Socrates as his mouthpiece, a clear example of a mentee using and expanding the knowledge of her seniors. An Emersonian individual, deprived of the knowledge of his ancestors, does not.