American Transcendentalism

1. American Transcendentalism “ It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, always do what you are afraid to do.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. ROOTS OF TRANSCENDENTALISM • Puritanism - belief in God as a powerful force - belief that each individual can experience God first-hand

3. 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

4. Transcendentalism • A literary movement in the 1830s that established a clear “American voice.” • Emerson first expressed his philosophy in his essay “Nature.” • A belief in a higher reality than that achieved by human reasoning. • Suggests that every individual is capable of discovering this higher truth through intuition. • “Over-Soul” - a spiritual connection to everything around us

5. TRANSCENDENTALISM • God gave humankind the gift of intuition, • the gift of insight, • the gift of inspiration. Why waste such a gift?

6. Unlike Puritans, Transcendentalists saw humans and nature as possessing an innate goodness. “In the faces of men and women, I see God.” -Walt Whitman • Opposed strict ritualism, tradition, and dogma of established religion.

7. TRANSCENDENTAL BELIEFS • OPTIMISTIC: • All is good. Evil is an illusion.

8. Transcendentalism: The tenets: • Believed in living close to nature/importance of nature. Nature is the source of truth and inspiration. • Taught the dignity of manual labor • Advocated self-trust/ confidence (intuition) • Valued individuality/non-conformity/free thought • Advocated self-reliance/ simplicity • The unlimited potential of each individual

9. The first transcendentalists • Ralph Waldo Emerson • Margaret Fuller • Henry David Thoreau • Bronson Alcott

10. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882-a philosopher, poet, essayist, lecturer- “a soft-spoken man, given to neither physical nor emotional excess. Beneath his calm, sober demeanor existed a restless, highly individualistic mind that resisted conformity.” • As a youth, his independent thinking was encouraged by his aunt • entered Harvard at age 14 • Became a pastor of a Unitarian church • Resigned after three years when his wife died • Traveled to Europe and spent time with English authors • Remarried and settled in Concord, MA – the home of Transcendentalism

11. Ralph Waldo Emerson “Nature” focuses on man’s relationship with nature “Self-Reliance” focuses on the individual’s relationship to society “Trust thyself”

12. Henry David Thoreau1817-1862 • A disciple and friend of Emerson • As a child, known to be independent, strong willed, eccentric and a rule breaker • Quite his first teaching job because he objected to the use of corporal punishment • 1841 – moved in to the house of Emerson for two years • Dedicated himself to testing the Transcendentalist philosophies • Thoreau began “essential” living • Built a cabin on land owned by Emerson in Concord, Mass. near Walden Pond • Lived alone there for two years studying nature and seeking truth within himself

13. “Civil Disobedience” • Thoreau’s essay urging passive, non-violent resistance to governmental policies to which an individual is morally opposed. • Influenced individuals such a Ghandi, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Cesar Chavez

14. TRANSCENDENTALISM • Transcendentalism began with a few and grew. • This philosophy lasted for several years in New England (peeked from 1930-1940) • It ended as the Civil War began.