Transcendentalism

1840-1860

Definition of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is an American literary, political, and philosophical movement It was centered around Ralph Waldo Emerson. Criticized contemporary society for its unthinking

conformity Believed in the innate (inborn) goodness of humans Transcendentalism, is a form of idealism, or a belief

in and pursuit of human perfection as an attainable goal.

The Big Three

The three major authors of transcendentalism are: Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Margaret Fuller.

The Industrial Revolution The industrialization of America

Expanded transportation Expansion of factories Effective harnessing of

electricity Improved agricultural

practices People moved from farms to

cities Overcrowding, disease, and

pollution Terrible work conditions Dehumanization: people

became factory lines Increased materialism

Transcendentalism was a reaction AGAINST the Revolution

Religious Roots

Differed greatly from the bleaker beliefs of Puritans

Transcendentalists believed that humans could strive to become better and be closer to God through nature

Religion Cont’d Nineteenth Century

American Transcendentalism is not a religion

It is a pragmatic philosophy, a state of mind, and a form of spirituality.

People must have a direct relationship with God and nature.

The Oversoul All forms of being-

God, nature, and humanity are all spiritually united through a shared universal soul, or Oversoul.

Every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God).

God can be found in both nature and human nature (Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations).

can be found everywhere - travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary.

Self-knowledge

Before Transcendentalism many believed John Locke's blank slate theory (tabula rasa), or, we are all born with a "blank slate"- all knowledge comes from the outside. The entire resource of knowledge is built up gradually from

experiences and sensory perceptions of the outside world. This is the “nurture” side of the nature vs. nurture debate.

Transcendentalists believe however, that all knowledge comes from self- knowledge (the “nature” side of the debate).

We each know how to behave if we only trust our inner light (Emerson called it our "whim")

Individualism

The Transcendentalists, in keeping with the individualistic nature of this philosophy, disagreed readily with each other. They were not a cohesive, organized group who shared a

formal doctrine. They were distinct and independent individuals who accepted

some basic premises about man’s place in the universe. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe -

and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself.

The soul of each individual is identical with the soul of the world and contains what the world contains.

Self-realization

Centered upon the belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization.

A philosophy that requires human beings to go beyond (transcend) reason in their search for truth.

an individual can arrive at the basic truths of life he or she takes the time to think seriously about them.

Critics

Hawthorne and Melville (Dark Romantics) criticized Transcendentalism

thought that Transcendentalists ignored two powerful realities:reality of evilreality of human love

were not convinced that humanity, if left to its own devices would behave well.