For Ralph Waldo Emerson, conformity was not a desirable characteristic. Do you think there are times when conformity is desirable or even necessary?

Much of the main thrust of Ralph Waldo Emerson's "Self-Reliance" focuses on the importance of staying true to one's inner nature and rejecting societal pressures to conform. It is a radical statement of individuality, and it is often seen as an inspiring affirmation of independence. Despite the importance of self-reliance and individuality, however, it's possible to find some fault with Emerson's thinking and assert, on certain occasions, the importance of conformity.

Emerson provides many justifiable examples of how the pressure to conform harms the individual spirit. That said, society often depends upon conformity on a very basic level. Consider driving, for instance. The safety of all drivers on a highway depends upon everyone conforming to the same laws, such as those that dictate how drivers can turn and which side of the road people can drive on. If someone were to assert his individuality by driving in the wrong direction, he would run the risk of seriously harming, or even killing, other drivers. Thus, it's apparent that in a large society, it's important for all individuals to conform to certain laws and regulations that protect the safety of the masses as a whole, as refusing to do so could result in the infliction of unnecessary harm. This type of conformity is probably more basic than what Emerson discusses; in general, Emerson condemns more complex conformity that needlessly encourages everyone to act exactly the same as everyone else. Even so, it's important to take his message with a grain of salt, as basic conformity to rules and laws is often necessary for the safe functioning of a complex society.