Final answer:
Ralph Waldo Emerson believes it is better to be a nonconformist for personal growth and true spirituality, as expressed in his essay 'Self-Reliance,' indicating that individuality and self-reliance lead to a more fulfilled life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Ralph Waldo Emerson is well-known for his views on individualism and nonconformity. In his essay "Self-Reliance," Emerson encourages readers to think independently rather than succumbing to societal pressures and mass conformity. He emphasizes the importance of personal growth and spiritual fulfillment through the statement, "Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist."
Emerson's philosophy aligns with the transcendentalist movement, which advocated for self-reliance and individual thought. He and his contemporaries, such as Henry David Thoreau, saw nature as a source of inspiration and truth, a stark contrast to the mainstream values of materialism and industrialism of their time. Therefore, Emerson's viewpoint clearly favors nonconformity as a path to authenticity and spiritual enlightenment.