Academic Writing

Please read: Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson (Also available as a presentation: Self-Reliance) Read through this passage quickly. It is a long passage and you don't have to know it all well. But there is one theme that goes through that is important here. Emerson says that "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.". Clearly he see critical thinking as a central part of a person's view on life. Bravery, courage, and the like extend as much from the mind as from the heart. (Note: it is a long passage, so search for words like "bravery" and "conformity" and the like to find the right part of the passage.) How is non-conformism related to bravery in Emerson's view of "self-reliance" Assignment Expectations When you answer this question, think about how the values of self-reliance affect our view of the world today. In particular, 'thinking for yourself' versus relying on what the media tells you. Think of the role our government plays in caring for people today versus how government played a much smaller role in day to day life in Emerson's time. All of this relates to the idea of 'bravery'. Does the brave individual rely solely on his or her own means to get ahead? Or does the brave individual need the help of others? Does needing the help of others mean that one is not brave or not self-reliant? Consider these issues as you think through your answer. Write a 3- to 5-page paper answering this question and upload it by the end of this module. For general resources on Emerson, go to Emerson Central. Emerson Centra (2007). Retrieved November 24, 2010, from [login to view URL] To learn more about Emerson as a transcendentalist, Emerson as a transcendentalist,(2007). Retrieved November 24, 2010, from [login to view URL]