Transcendentalism

“The Big Three” Ralph Waldo Emerson Margaret Fuller Henry David Thoreau

Transcendentalism Is… Spiritual Philosophical Literary (movement)

Basic Assumption Intuition, not reason or religion, is the way in which we can understand the world psyche known as the Oversoul, or God.

Basic Premises: An individual is the spiritual center of the universe – an in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history, etc. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain the world and an individual’s role in the world.

Basic Premise, continued 2. All knowledge begins with self-knowledge. (Aristotle’s dictum “Know thyself.”) 3. Nature is symbolic – nature is a living mystery and full of signs.

Basic Tenets: Form of idealism “Transcends” (rises above) lower, animalistic impulses of life & moves from rational to spiritual realm Human soul is part of Oversoul, or Universal Spirit – to which it and other souls return upon death.

Basic Tenets: 4. Every individual is to be respected, because all connected. 5. Oversoul can be found everywhere – travel to Holy Lands, etc. not necessary 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature. 7. Jesus had part of God in himself – as do we all. He transcended better than most.

Basic Tenets: 8. “Miracle is monster.” Miracles of Bible not as important now as were in past. The whole world is a miracle and all should be rejoiced in. 9. Concern for this life more important than about afterlife. 10. Death should not be feared. It is a return to the Oversoul.

Basic Tenets: 11. Emphasis should be on here & now. (“Give me one world at a time.” ~Thoreau) 12. Evil is a negative – merely the absence of good. Light is more powerful than dark because it breaks through darkness. 13. Emphasis on self-reliance. Power is obtained by defeating fate or predestination by exercising one’s own spiritual & moral strength

Basic Tenets: 14. Emphasis placed on human thinking. 15. Need great thinkers, writers, leaders, etc. to show what an individual can accomplish through thought & action. 16. Unity of life & universe must be realized. There is a relationship in all things. 17. Reform must not be emphasized. True reform comes from within.