The American Scholar

Emersons arguement still holds true to this day.

One reason Emersons argument still holds true to this day is because everyone classifys themselves by what they do. Now a days lawyers are friends with lawyers and doctors are friends with doctors, i can't recall the last time i saw a brain surgeon hang out with a trash man, our jobs give us labels which in turn segrgate us, if people want to focus on what they do rather than just forget about work, that is how his argument holds true to this day.

Another reason is becauseeveryone needs to be more self reliant. When jobs start becoming harder and harder to find, you have to specialize in one thing rather than be able to have a range of skills, you are in a sence, stuck, doing one thing. If a Engineer decides he wants to be a doctor that is going to be very tough becuase he already spent 4 years plus in college getting an enginering degree, and he would have to spend 8 more in Med. school. You are always going to need somebody to do something for you.