Final answer:
Emerson believed that each individual should be their own judge of what is good and bad, emphasizing inner conviction and conscience controlled by reason.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson, who is known for advocating the ideals of individualism and transcendentalism, believed that each individual was the best judge of what is good and bad for themselves. Emerson's philosophy, especially in his essay 'Self-Reliance,' emphasizes the importance of personal conviction and the inner voice as the supreme guide in moral matters. He advocated for individuals to think independently rather than conforming to societal norms and pressures. The conscience, controlled by reason, was seen as the ultimate arbiter in determining one's actions and their moral worth. Accordingly, he views everyone as having the divine inside them, thereby granting the autonomy to discern their own path without external judgment.