Philosophy Emerson: "Self-Reliance" America Is Research Proposal

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But one hand, while Emerson's statements are supposed to be true for all human beings, it is hard not to wonder -- isn't this the type of total self-confidence that can lead to tyranny? How can a nation exist, composed entirely of such complete individualists, with no common background, sense of history, or tradition -- or, most importantly, no sense of responsibility to society? What if every human being is convinced that his own inherent genius gives him the right to rule -- would not society be at war, or at very least, fragmented and unable to govern itself? Emerson, as evident in his other writings did not really seem to believe that all human beings were inherently equal at philosophy. Showing if nothing else his belief that consistency is the "hobgoblin" of little minds, in his earlier essay "Nature" he proclaims: "The wise man shows his wisdom in separation, in gradation, and his scale of creatures and of merits is as wide as nature. The foolish have no range in their scale, but suppose every man is as every other man. What is not good they call the worst, and what is not hateful, they call the best." In other words, Emerson seems to wish 'the best' to be true to themselves and eschew societal influence, if it hampers their creativity.

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He is unlikely to be equally supportive of the self-reliant thoughts of someone he considers "foolish."

Emerson's radical philosophy of self-reliance and nonconformity sounds inspiring provided if one agrees with the brand of nonconformity being espoused. A conservative might like the self-reliance of a proud, gun-touting frontiersman, the liberal might like the self-reliant nonconformity of an artist producing provocative and challenging art. But to create a world where all people have the right and ability to freely express themselves, it is necessary to have some common respect and form of government that everyone must accept. Otherwise, society will deteriorate into a total state of nature. Unless we agree to some common principles and tradition, if only the tradition of tolerance, we as an American society cannot move forward into the future about which Emerson felt such optimism.

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