Could Thoreau's idea of a simplistic life work in today's society?

Yes

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by A.T. Meininger

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For certain individuals, a simple life could work and others it could not. There are very few needs humans have, compared to their desires. There's the need for food, shelter, water, sleep, and I would strongly make the claim that beyond what purely physical needs exist, humans have emotional needs that they would die without. Those would be the momentary escape from reality and some kind of interaction with other people. I can evidence this by the example of the orphan babies of postwar England that died for no other reason other than their caretakers did not touch them. Is all this possible with a 'man outside society'. Certainly.

The hierarchy of needs and wants is not as clear as it may have been at one time. The desire for a new pair of shoes for example fulfills a need of diminishing walking discomfort while a person's choice can be made on what shoes look good on them. The internet was recently considered a luxury, until it became so common that millions of businesses used it in trade. At that point it became necessity. It's definitely possible to have a basic lifestyle. Some may choose to join you and you can work together.

You will need knowledge of farming techniques and some seeds to grow your food. If there's a water source around that's pure enough for your comfort, you can drink from it-and you will probably use it for your crops. If you can carry and cut enough wood and have enough knowledge, you can build your own house and a fire when you need it. If you did a decent job building your shelter you can stay warm in the winter and free from animals attacking or taking your food. There's plenty of things you can create to entertain yourself. You can draw pictures in the dirt or play with animals.

It's definitely a possible thing to make your log cabin lifestyle work. Considering the vast improvements in lifestyle and lifespan, I have no reason to follow Thoreau's example, although it would make for a decent subject to bring up at parties or to write a book about.

It's also worth noting that Thoreau wasn't perfect in his lifestyle choice. Should you feel the need to return to McDonalds for a Big Mac, see the latest Disney-Pixar movie, or go Christmas shopping at the mall nobody can stop you.

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