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Transcendentalism TRANSCENDS (verb): to rise above, to go beyond, to surpass the expected, excel, outdo TRANSCENDENTALISM Belief in a higher kind of knowledge than can be achieved by human reason TRANSCENDENTALISM God gave humankind the gift of intuition, the gift of insight, the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a gift? TRANSCENDENTALISM Historical Background Began in Germany – Immanuel Kant, philosopher – 1700’s Developed in United States in 1836 – Transcendental Club – Boston – 1836 – led by Ralph Waldo Emerson RALPH WALDO EMERSON author essayist lecturer philosopher Unitarian minister TRANSCENDENTALISM Emerson and the Transcendentalists led the search for truth – in nature – through self-reliance • “No law can be sacred to me but that of my nature.” Emerson Roots of Transcendentalism Puritanism –belief in God as a powerful force –belief that each individual can experience God first-hand Roots of Transcendentalism Romanticism – placed central importance on emotions and the individual – emphasized intuition and inner perception of truth that differs from reason – emphasized nature’s beauty, strangeness, and mystery – emphasized individual expression and artistic freedom TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS Nonconformity: – Follow your own ambition, and do whatever you want in life – THOREAU: if someone acts different, “…perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” (Walden) TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS SELF-RELIANCE: –Rely on yourself TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS evil is an illusion OPTIMISTIC: –all is good TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS INDIVIDUALISM (Free Thought): –be true to one’s own inner perception or intuition If I know it is truth, then it is truth. TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS UNLIMITED POTENTIAL OF EACH INDIVIDUAL (Confidence) – set high goals to improve TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS NATURE IS TRUTH – it can be a guide to higher understanding Nature symbolizes God or the inner life of human beings HENRY DAVID THOREAU Lived the philosophy of Transcendentalism that Emerson espoused Spent 26 months at Walden Pond to “live deliberately - to front only the essential facts of life . . .” TRANSCENDENTALISM Transcendentalism began with a few and grew. This philosophy lasted for several years in New England It ended as the Civil War began.
