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Transcendentalism
What is Transcendentalism?
an idealistic philosophical and social movement that
developed in New England around 1836 in reaction
to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism,
Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that
divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its
members held progressive views on feminism and
communal living.
How Transcendentalism is like Romanticism
Focus on the individual
Nature as a place for spirituality
Good v. evil
Intuition over reason (gut feeling more important
than facts)
Supernatural/mystic
Tenets of Transcendentalism
Nature represents God
Individual can have a direct relationship with God
God is omnipresent
Intuition allows us to know things without being
directly taught
Self-reliance – resist the influence of society which
is corrupt
Humans are naturally good
Simplicity – resistance to technology and
materialism
Focus on the present and current experience
Key Figures
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry David Thoreau