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

What is Transcendentalism? The Movement: 19th-century (1800s) New England philosophers and writers Part of the Romantic Movement Established a clear “American voice” first expressed the essay “Nature” The Basics: Ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical A loose collection of eclectic ideas Different meanings for each person The Movement: 19th-century (1800s) New England philosophers and writers. Part of the Romantic Movement. Literary movement that established a clear “American voice”. Ralph Waldo Emerson first expressed his philosophy in his essay “Nature”. The Basics: There is an ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical. transend:be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically a conceptual field or division) empirical: based on or verifiable by observation or experience rather than theory or pure logic A loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform, and the general state of American culture. Transcendentalism had different meanings for each person involved in the movement.

Transcendentalism in a nutshell A group of people loosely bound together by beliefs in: the essential unity of all creation the innate goodness of humankind the supremacy of intuition and creativity over logic and experience when seeking the deepest truths

Premise 1: Nature and God Value the spiritual importance of nature Accept the concept of nature as a living mystery, full of signs Nature is symbolic Nature is thing that brings understanding of all other things. Through nature people can transcend the physical realm. Spiritual communing with nature is key to self-actualization. Self-actualization: the realization or fulfillment of one's talents and potentialities, especially considered as a drive or need present in everyone. Nature is like a god. Humans may not understand it fully, but we can see it for its beauty, its mystery, and the signs it gives to us. Nature is symbolic of God, the universe, the self--all things. Henry David Thoreau is regarded as a father of the modern environmental movement because of his connection with nature and his years living a self- reliant life at Walden.

Premise 2: Man’s place Divine truth could be known intuitively or naturally. Put them at odds with organized religion Going to a place of worship was unnecessarily Individual is the spiritual center of the universe Is not a rejection of the existence of God The structure of the universe duplicates the structure of the individual self Similar to Aristotle's "know thyself." Its ideas were grounded in the claim that divine truth could be known intuitively or naturally. Intuitive: using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning; instinctive. This put them at odds with traditional, organized religion They felt that going to a place of worship was unnecessarily since you already possessed your intuition. 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. 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. The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."

Premise 3: Self-Reliance Individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization Depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies (self and society) Embrace the whole world Know and become one with the world. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: self and the place of society Desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world.

Premise 4: Society is Corrupt Human are born pure; they remain naturally good at the core Inspiration was limited by social conformity, which therefore must be resisted The desire to withdraw, and keep an egotistical existence Materialism and technology are corrupting influences If moral intuition held them to be unjust, laws should be disobeyed e.g. Slavery is inherently wrong because it crushed the spiritual development of both the slaves and the oppressors. Humanity is born pure and can maintain its natural purity--IF they keep away or remove themselves from the corrupting influence of society The transcendentalists held that inspiration was limited by social conformity, which therefore must be resisted. Transcendentalists had a keen desire to withdraw—remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence. Egotistical: excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself; self-centered. Materialism & technology: Material goods and technology are major drivers in society and are, therefore, corrupting. These things connect us to society but remove us from nature, which is the core of Transcendental beliefs. Transcendentalists believed laws should be disobeyed if moral intuition held them to be unjust (if you just felt that they were wrong). Thoreau famously argued this point in his essay "Civil Disobedience.” He here advised individuals to disobey unjust laws so as to prevent their personal involvement in evil. Transcendentalists saw slavery as inherently wrong because it crushed the spiritual development of both the slaves and the oppressors.

Premise 5: Live now Emphasis on the here and now Past is unimportant Knowledge comes from experience History cannot teach us The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: self and the place of society Desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world.

To be a Transcendentalist Live close to nature. Nature is the source of truth and inspiration. Know the dignity of manual labor Trust yourself Value: individuality, nonconformity, free thought Rely on yourself and live simplistically

Critics of Transcendentalism Accused Transcendentalist of... of undercutting Christianity of being optimistic about human nature of underestimating human weakness of placing the individual above society Accused Transcendentalist of... of undercutting Christianity of assessing human nature too optimistically of underestimating human weakness and potential for evil of placing too much emphasis on the self-reliant individual at the expense of society and social reform

Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 Unitarian minister Poet and essayist Most famous essay, “Self- Reliance” Founded the Transcendental Club Popular lecturer Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity School address Supporter of abolitionism Abolitionism: the movement to end slavery

Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862 Schoolteacher, essayist, poet Most famous for his essays: “Walden” and “Civil Disobedience” Influenced environmental movement Supporter of abolitionism

Louis CK . . .