TRANSCENDENTALISM "Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day." -Ralph Waldo Emerson  

3.Theology. (of the Deity) to be one with the universe, time, etc.). Transcend- Verb 1.to rise above or go beyond; overpass; exceed: kindness transcends courtesy. 2.to outdo or exceed in excellence, elevation, extent, degree, etc.; surpass; excel. 3.Theology. (of the Deity) to be one with the universe, time, etc.).

American transcendentalism was an important movement in philosophy and What is it? American transcendentalism was an important movement in philosophy and literature that flourished during the early to middle years of the nineteenth century (about 1836-1860).

How did it come about… Began as reform movement in the church that focused on God’s presence in every individual and emphasized intuition (tuition=that which can be taught, thus INtuition=cannot be taught) Believed that the soul of each individual is identical with the soul of the world and contains what the world contains Emerson called this the OVERSOUL.

The I’s of Transcendentalism Interconnectivity of man, God, and nature Individualism and self-reliance Intuition leads to knowledge Inherent goodness of people Imagination and emotions celebrated

What do Transcendentalists believe? Unity of man and creation All is one- DIRECT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD Truth can be understood fully only through experience Essential nature of human beings is good and if left in a state of nature, human beings would seek the good- Transcendentalists seek MORAL AND PHYSICAL PURITY Society is to blame for the corruption that mankind endures Only by transcending the limits of rationalism and received tradition can the individual fully realize his or her potential

What do Transcendentalists believe? An individual is the spiritual center of the universe- MAN IS DIVINE—and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual.

What do Transcendentalists believe? The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge begins with self-knowledge, similar to Aristotle’s “know thyself.” Nature is a living mystery, full of signs. Nature is symbolic. As Emerson said, “Every natural fact is a symbol of some spiritual fact.” LIVING CLOSE TO NATURE is important (Walden)

What do Transcendentalists believe? 4. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon SELF-RELIANCE— this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: The desire to embrace the whole world, to know and become one with the world. The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate. But, INTELLECTUAL COMPANIONSHIP is also key to transcending.

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803 – 1882 Unitarian Minister (Seventh generation) Educated by Aunt Moody who taught him to be an independent thinker Death of first wife from T.B. caused him to question traditional Christianity New faith eliminated the historical and external elements of Christianity Focused on personal experience of the spirit

In my writing… Genres: Poetry, Essays, Sermons Major Themes: Reliance on self Redemption lies within the individual Individual perceptions matter most Importance of building your own philosophy Non-Conformity Nature as ideal

From Nature (1836) “…Let us demand our own works and laws and worship...” “…Standing on the bare ground… all egotism vanishes. I become a transparent eyeball. I am nothing. I see all.” “In the woods is perpetual youth… In the woods we return to reason and faith…”

From “Self-Reliance” (1841) “There is a time in every man’s education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is ignorance; that imitation in suicide…” “What I must do is all that concerns me, not what people think…” “…none but he knows what that is which he can do, not does he know until he has tried.” “Trust thyself…” “…to be great is to be misunderstood”

Henry David Thoreau 1817 – 1862 While at Harvard read Nature by Emerson and was greatly influenced by the work After teaching for a few years and death of his brother, he decided to retire to a cabin owned by Emerson near Walden Pond He kept a journal while in the woods and this became a basis for Walden Focused on living deliberately in nature and the importance of the environment

In my writing… Genres: Books, Essays Themes Relationship between man and nature Relationship between divine and individual (spiritual enlightenment) 3. Society’s limitations and restrictions on the individual

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation” From Walden (1854) “Our life is frittered away by detail…simplicity, simplicity, simplicity!” “The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation”

From Civil Disobedience (1848) “That government is best which governs least” “If a government is maintaining unjust laws, people should at once effectually withdraw their support, both in person and property, from the government”