The great debate as to whether or not man is intrinsically good or intrinsically evil has plagued philosophers for millennia. In his essay, “Self Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson gives readers his answer: when left to his own devices, following his individualized code of conduct, man is good; when ignoring his personal nature and submitting to the whims of society, man is evil. Emerson essentially equates individuality with morality and society with the death of the individual. In doing so, Emerson not only overestimates the nature of individuals, he also downplays the positive potential of society.
Perhaps the best quotation to display both Emerson’s disdain for the viewpoints of the masses and his adoration of the individual is: “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.” To Emerson, what an individual defines as sacred is sacrosanct, it cannot be argued upon or debated, except by the individual himself. Archaic concepts such as “wholesome family values” or social norms cannot constrain this individual; however he defines right, so it is, however he defines evil, so it is. Emerson’s overpowered individual is the ultimate example of self-centeredness, a creature who “despises charity,” and can only do what he sees fit, when he sees fit. If the hoi polloi are caught in the crossfire of his blazing individuality, so be it. Emerson’s individual would, at the very least, be called a narcissist, if not a non-violent sociopath.
Man has dark desires. Whether they be of a sexual, monetary or emotional nature, every individual sometimes has a desire to do something which society would label as “wrong.” In defense of his own self-value, the individual will go to great lengths to rationalize his or her actions. Lines such as “I deserve this,” “My husband did this to me before, now it’s my turn” or even “it’s not that bad” are examples of rationalizations that people use all the time. ...