Emerson's Ideas of Self Reliance

In contemporary society, technology (i.e. science) and materialism threaten undermine our individuality and originality by pressuring us to conform to a dominant set of mainstream values. This set of values is monetarily-based, externally-oriented, and rewards consistency and conformity. Our relationships toward ourselves and others often stems from our desire to conform to these values consistently. For example, men typically believe they need to pursue high paying jobs in order to compete with their peers, provide for their families, and achieve the "goals" of mainstream values and society. This is the case even though such occupations often deprive them of time to connect with their internal self which is the expression of divine reality (God) as is nature. By going against our nature, we go against nature at large and the inherent capacity for divinity within each individual. Only by resisting conformity and consistency and making contact with that inner divinity through appreciation of true nature, at large and our own, can be experience joy in living and joy in our relationships toward others, "A man is relieved and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he had said or done otherwise, shall give him no peace," (Emerson 1841).

There is a deep dignity and profound value in every individual. Feeling and intuition dominates reason and empirical observation through their capacity to put us in touch with our own dignity a

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Category: Philosophy - E