Today, there is a tendency to focus on individualism as the way to preserve one’s personal attitudes, thoughts, and ideas from the impact of the other people’s opinions. During a long period of time, the controversial question of the opposition between the person and society was discussed by philosophers, psychologists, and sociologists. Is it right to follow the opinion of the masses or to be strict in following personal points of view and visions of definite issues?
The peculiarities of the contemporary society’s progress influence the development of nonconformist’s ideas according to which many individuals can be characterised nowadays. Is it possible to speak about their bravery with the help of which they feel the ability to resist the public’s opinions and stick to their own viewpoints?
In his “Self-Reliance” (1841), Ralph Waldo Emerson developed the idea of such nonconformism, and this work became the most controversial discussion of the problem of the man’s individualism and bravery as opposite to the adopted customs, social principles, and the public’s opinions.
According to Emerson, self-reliance depends on the personal bravery or courage because an individual can present his or her ideas openly and support the unique position which is contradicting to the customary opinions only when this individual is brave and self-confident.
Ralph Waldo Emerson states that it is necessary to listen to the personal thoughts and ideas because it is the way to the genius and self-reliance which make people free from any limits and conventions adopted in society.
Emerson supports the idea about the genius indicating that “in every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts: they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty” (Emerson, 2009). Thus, the genius is not afraid of representing those ideas and feelings which are close to almost everyone. However, not everyone is ready to declare them because of their nonconformist’s character. That is why the genius is often brave.
Nonconformists are usually perceived by those people who follow traditional visions and who are used to obey the rules as the destroyers of the social norms which are based on the moral norms or virtues. However, Emerson notes that “virtues are, in the popular estimate, rather the exception than the rule” (Emerson, 2009).
In spite of the fact many people speak about virtues, morality, and norms, few of them are inclined to use these notions in their everyday life (Anastas, 2011). Nevertheless, they prefer to blame the other persons because of their not following these principles. From this point, nonconformists are not only brave when they pay less attention to the public’s viewpoints, but they are also right when they critically examine the concrete situation and stick to their position (Kateb, 2002).
That is why Emerson adds that “for nonconformity the world whips you with its displeasure. And therefore a man must know how to estimate a sour face” (Emerson, 2009). People do not like to trust those people who seem to be unusual and independent. Thus, the public does not like nonconformists.
According to Emerson, the only person whom it is possible to trust is an individual oneself. Emerson states, “Trust thyself” (Emerson, 2009). However, many people lack confidence which can influence their self-reliance and that is why they cannot trust their own opinions and thoughts without references to the other people’s points of view. To trust only one’s own thoughts and feelings is the prerogative of the brave persons.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of situations when even a brave person cannot rely only on his or her visions of the events because people in spite of their inner power and individualism cannot have the perfect knowledge on all the aspects of the everyday life. Asking for some help, an individual does not become less self-reliant, but more confident in the effectiveness of the definite decision.
When people do not trust all the information which is told from the screens, presented in newspapers, and expanded by the governments this behaviour does not support the idea that these persons are nonconformists, they only think critically and can analyze the information effectively.
These individuals are self-reliant because they do not depend on the other people’s ideas. People are small worlds, and they can be brave, confident, and active because, according to Emerson, “your conformity explains nothing” (Emerson, 2009). Thus, self-reliant people form the free society, and in this case, “the self-reliant mentality sustains freedom, while the dependent mentality perpetuates despotism” (Caplan, 1996).
That is why it is possible to say that Ralph Waldo Emerson’s notion of self-reliance and its necessary component which is the personal nonconformity are interdependent with the concept of the individuals’ bravery as the key factor which provides persons with the opportunity to follow their own thoughts, attitudes, and ideas.
To oppose openly to the public’s traditional views and ideas which are shared by the masses, an individual should be rather brave and keep the independent position. Each person has the right to think and act according to his or her own principles without references to the other people’s visions.
References
Anastas, B. (2011). The foul reign of Emerson’s ‘Self-Reliance’. Web.
Caplan, B. (1996). Self-reliance and creative destruction. Web.
Emerson, R. W. (2009). Self-reliance. Web.
Kateb, G. (2002). Emerson and self-reliance. USA: Rowman & Littlefield.