Transcendentalism “Who so would be a man must be a non-conformist.”

Transcendentalism  Emerson started the Transcendentalist movement – part of the Romantic literary movement or the first American Renaissance  It stressed individualism, intuition, nature, and self-reliance

Beliefs of Transcendentalism  Direct connection or “communication” between the universe and the individual soul.  Nature is the gospel of the new faith. In other words, nature is worshiped and all answers can be found within it.

The “Over-soul”  Transcendentalists believed that the over- soul encapsulated the universe  Connected man with nature and everything else in the world  Believed they could unlock all of the answers to the world by communicating with the over-soul  “I am a transparent eyeball; I am nothing; I see all”

Say Whaaa?  What is the “Over-Soul”? The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives people have lived, all the things everyone has learned and all of the workings of nature The over-soul is the combination of all your life experiences, all the lives people have lived, all the things everyone has learned and all of the workings of nature In order to connect with the over-soul, one had to listen to his or her intuition and follow it to translate the symbols of nature into spiritual facts. In order to connect with the over-soul, one had to listen to his or her intuition and follow it to translate the symbols of nature into spiritual facts. In other words, your reading the signs of nature to understand how the world works.In other words, your reading the signs of nature to understand how the world works.

By connecting with the oversoul…  The belief is that all people can change and become more than they are now.  With each lesson comes more understanding of our purpose for being (on the earth).  It is also believed that with meditation you can gain insight into your own personal path.

Following Your Intuition  Follow your own intuition and own beliefs, however divergent or different from the social norm they may be.  Since all people are inherently good, the individual’s instinctive response to any given situation will be the right thing to do.

Characteristics of Transcendentalism  Non-conformity  Self-reliance Free thought/ individualism Free thought/ individualism  Importance of Nature

Non-Conformity  Failure or refusal to conform to the majority  Non-conformity and Transcendentalism Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary independence as well. Transcendentalists realized that it had been decades since America gained independence and that it was time to seek literary independence as well. These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything England had to offer These people wanted to create literature unique to America different from anything England had to offer Began as a protest against popular culture Began as a protest against popular culture

Self Reliance  Depending on only oneself for all needs  Self reliance and transcendentalism Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers. Before this time, no one had thought of looking into ones self to find answers.  It’s better to listen to your own intuition than to follow someone else’s beliefs.

Self Reliance Continued Free thought and Transcendentalism Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day) Another way to look at the Transcendentalists is to see them as a generation of people struggling to define spirituality and religion (hippies of their day) The spiritual hunger for understanding of the world (which is why they tried to connect with the oversoul) The spiritual hunger for understanding of the world (which is why they tried to connect with the oversoul) Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just- rational perspective. Transcendentalists believed in an intuitive, experiential, passionate, more-than-just- rational perspective.

Importance of Nature  Experiencing nature was of critical importance because the natural world was the face of God.  Becoming physically closer to nature, contemplating it, understanding it—these were the actions that brought man closer to his maker.

The A List  Ralph Waldo Emerson Writer Writer Philosopher Philosopher  Henry David Thoreau Writer/Naturalist Writer/Naturalist  Margaret Fuller Feminism/Free Thought Feminism/Free Thought  Bronson Alcott Educator Educator