Final answer:
It is true that Emerson thought men ignore their internal voice due to societal emphasis on the importance of more famous people's ideas. His essay 'Self-Reliance' stresses the value of individual thought and self-confidence in the face of conformity and mediocrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson is renowned for his advocacy of individualism and self-reliance. In his essay "Self-Reliance," Emerson indeed posits that men often disregard their own internal voice or intuition because they have been conditioned to value the actions and words of more famous individuals over their own. It is true that Emerson believed that society prioritizes the voices of the famous, which can cause individuals to undervalue their own thoughts and ideas. The essay encourages readers to think independently and to resist societal pressures towards conformity and mediocrity.
Emerson's views were shaped by his beliefs in transcendentalism, a philosophical movement that emphasized the inherent goodness of both people and nature. He challenged the dominant social norms and encouraged personal freedom and direct connection with the divine, which he believed existed in every individual. This concept is central to understanding why Emerson believed individuals ignore their internal voice in favor of more celebrated voices.