Final answer:
Emerson described society as conformist and mediocre and suggested individualism as the approach one must strive for. His essays, notably 'Self-Reliance,' promote being a nonconformist and greatly influenced American transcendentalism and subsequent reform movements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson described society as a force that often promotes conformity and mediocrity, resulting in a loss of genuine personal independence and creativity. In his essay "Self-Reliance," Emerson urges individuals to think for themselves and champion individualism. He believed that to be true to oneself, one must be a nonconformist and must not succumb to the tyranny of the majority, a perspective which resonates with the ideas of French aristocrat Alexis de Tocqueville. Emerson's influence on American society was profound, as he pushed for an individualized, modest moral life guided by social responsibility to humanity and nature. His writings encouraged others, including Henry David Thoreau, to espouse similar views on self-reliance and civil disobedience, impacting American transcendentalism and reform movements.