Transcendentalism 1830s-1840s Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau

Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a movement of thought that took place in America in the mid-1800s.

Transcendentalism The foundation of Transcendental thought comes from a mixture of German philosophy, ancient Greek philosophy, Asian belief systems, and American Puritan beliefs.

Transcendentalism The most important idea of transcendentalism was that true reality was not about the physical world but in spiritual understanding.

Transcendentalism In determining the ultimate reality of truth, the universe, the self, and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience in the world.

Transcendentalism With that, the true reality involved ideas and emotions rather than the world as perceived by the senses.

Transcendentalism Transcendentalists believed that people could become perfect through hard work, and they worked to achieve this goal. The way to become more perfect was to seek after and gain a better understanding of truth.

Transcendentalism Some ways to gain a better understanding of truth included: Nature- Transcendentalists believed that truth reveals itself through nature. All aspects of Nature reveal part of truth/ spirituality.

Transcendentalism Some ways to gain a better understanding of truth included: Intuition- our capacity to know things spontaneously and immediately through our emotions rather than through our reasoning abilities.

Transcendentalism Some ways to gain a better understanding of truth included: Trust- Individuals must trust our own ability to know truth. Then we will realize that each of us is also part of the Divine Soul, the source of all good.

Transcendentalism The Results of Transcendentalism: Optimism- Transcendentalists urge people to free themselves of the “quiet desperation” of their lives. Your condition today may seem dull and disheartening, but it need not be. If you discover the truth and spirituality within you, your life will partake of the grandeur of the universe.

Transcendentalism The Results of Transcendentalism: Self-Reliance: If you learn to trust your own ability to know truth and make decisions, you don’t need to rely on other people’s opinions or help to live your own life. This also allows people to stand up for things they believe in and make a difference in their world.

Transcendentalism The Major Overall Ideas Nonconformity Self-Reliance Free thought Confidence Importance of Nature

Ralph Waldo Emerson RWE was the best known Transcendental writer and lecturer, making the ideas of Transcendentalism more widely known. Emerson and his ideas appealed to both intellectuals and the general public.

Ralph Waldo Emerson He expressed better than any other American previously the advantages of a young country and encouraged letting go of England’s ways of the past.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson urged independent thinking and stressed that not all life's answers are found in books. He believed that a scholar learns best by engaging life. Emerson urged independent thinking and stressed that not all life's answers are found in books. He believed that a scholar learns best by engaging life.

Henry David Thoreau

Thoreau, friend of Emerson and fellow Transcendentalist, is most famous for writing Walden a series of 18 essays describing his experiment in basic living and his effort to live as simply and self-sufficiently as possible. He moved to the woods on Walden Pond and lived there for two years.

Henry David Thoreau The essays provide original perspective on the various realities of life at Walden Pond: his intimacy with the small animals he came in contact with; the sounds, smells, and look of woods and water at various seasons; the music of wind in telegraph wires—in short, the felicities of learning how to fulfill his desire to live as simply and self-sufficiently as possible.

Henry David Thoreau Midway in his Walden sojourn, Thoreau spent a night in jail. One evening in July 1846 he encountered a tax collector. Thoreau was asked amiably to pay his poll tax which he hadn’t paid for several years. He declined and was send to jail. The next morning a still-unidentified lady, perhaps his aunt, paid the tax. Thoreau reluctantly emerged, did an errand, and then went huckleberrying. A single night, he decided, was enough to make his point that he could not support a government that endorsed slavery and waged an imperialist war against Mexico. Midway in his Walden sojourn, Thoreau spent a night in jail. One evening in July 1846 he encountered a tax collector. Thoreau was asked amiably to pay his poll tax which he hadn’t paid for several years. He declined and was send to jail. The next morning a still-unidentified lady, perhaps his aunt, paid the tax. Thoreau reluctantly emerged, did an errand, and then went huckleberrying. A single night, he decided, was enough to make his point that he could not support a government that endorsed slavery and waged an imperialist war against Mexico.

Henry David Thoreau His defense of the private, individual conscience against the expediency of the majority found expression in his most famous essay, “Resistance to Civil Government.” (1849) The essay received little attention until the 20th century, when it found an eager audience. To many, its message still sounds timely: there is a higher law than the civil one, and the higher law must be followed even if a penalty ensues. So does its consequence: “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.” His defense of the private, individual conscience against the expediency of the majority found expression in his most famous essay, “Resistance to Civil Government.” (1849) The essay received little attention until the 20th century, when it found an eager audience. To many, its message still sounds timely: there is a higher law than the civil one, and the higher law must be followed even if a penalty ensues. So does its consequence: “Under a government which imprisons any unjustly, the true place for a just man is also a prison.”

Famous Quotes from Thoreau Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. Walden Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. Walden Things do not change; we change. Things do not change; we change. Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. Many go fishing all their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. Any fool can make a rule, and any fool will mind it. As if you could kill time without injuring eternity. As if you could kill time without injuring eternity.

Famous Quotes from Emerson A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. A hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is brave five minutes longer. A man is what he thinks about all day long. A man is what he thinks about all day long. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better. An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. An ounce of action is worth a ton of theory. Before we acquire great power we must acquire wisdom to use it well. Before we acquire great power we must acquire wisdom to use it well.

Famous Quotes from Emerson and Thoreau

Journal 1 Reflect on the conversation you and your group had about nature, spirituality, and individualism. What were some of your thoughts? What were some of the thoughts shared by your group members that made you think? Do you think that these questions are important to your life? What questions are important to your life?

Journal 2 What were some of the main ideas that you understood from “Self-Reliance”? What does it mean in your life to be self- reliant? Write about some experiences where you were self-reliant and the results. Write about some experiences when you weren’t self-reliant and how did that make you feel?

Journal 3 Most people desire to be independent and free. What does it mean to be these things? What kind of life does an independent person live? In what ways do you most desire to be independent and free? What responsibilities will you have to accept to receive independence? Are there ways in which you would rather not be independent?

Journal 4 Under what circumstances, if any, would you be willing to go to jail for a moral or political principle? Write a brief description of the principle and of your feelings about it. Why do you believe so strongly in that idea? Or explain reasons that you wouldn’t be willing to go to jail for your beliefs. Is there any point in which you would go to jail?

Journal 5 A Muslim woman had her case thrown out of US court because she would not remove a veil from her face. The State of Florida demands that it be removed for a driving license picture. France has banned it in public schools. One British politician calls wearing a veil a “visible statement of separation and difference.” Should the wearing of veils be banned in US high schools, courts, and/or public places?