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Ralph Waldo Emerson's Apology

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Ralph Waldo Emerson's Apology
In Plato's Apology, Socrates is on trial for his life because of the alleged accusations of him believing in false gods and teaching such doctrine and corrupting the youth through his teachings. Socrates addresses his accusers faulty allegations while addressing the Athenian people's destructive gullibility in siding with his accusers opinions without searching out the evidence for themselves. Using this opportunity to not just defend himself but rather expose the underlining and core issues, Socrates calls for Athenians to seek to improve their inner life more than their exterior which requires a self-dependent mindset. In Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self-Reliance, Emerson pleas people to cut the cord from their societal dependence in order …show more content…
When one relies on the opinion of others, many steer clear of thinking otherwise for fear of offending people and being shunned as an outcaste. Ralph Waldo Emerson describes this catastrophe stating, "envy is ignorance [...] imitation is suicide" (2). Emerson reveals the core damaging effect of trying to become like another, it kills oneself. I agree that one should not exhaust and waste one's life aspiring to be a clone of another, for it suffocates their own identity and causes them to lose their own soul in the process. People should quit the expedition of taking on another's form and risk being …show more content…
Socrates and Emerson believe that this voice should not only be heard and acted upon but should be treated like a god and obey its every call and demand. Emerson says, "god is within". Emerson sees the soul as the deity of all life. I disagree that man is god, that the soul is god. The soul is compromised of the mind, will, and emotions. One would be quite deceived to believe that feelings are stable and should always be acted upon. The mind can be easily corrupted by or distorted by one's life experiences, personal traumas, or by one's environment that could have fogged the soul's ability and mind to think clearly. One's willpower can only go so far. I believe that man has limited knowledge, strength, and wisdom. The soul needs discipline and order, that is why one requires outside
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