Tenets of Transcendentalism “ To be great is to be misunderstood.”

America: coming of age America: coming of age Landscape and culture were developing and finding a place in a literature distinct from European models Landscape and culture were developing and finding a place in a literature distinct from European models This literary period is often described as a renaissance or rebirth (in comparison to the European Renaissance of the 14th-16th centuries) because of the cultural development between This literary period is often described as a renaissance or rebirth (in comparison to the European Renaissance of the 14th-16th centuries) because of the cultural development between

Social improvement: New England was experiencing a period/movement of self- improvement and intellectual inquiry called Lyceum. New England was experiencing a period/movement of self- improvement and intellectual inquiry called Lyceum. Goals of this movement: training teachers, establishing museums, and instituting social reforms. Goals of this movement: training teachers, establishing museums, and instituting social reforms. Emerson provided a series of lectures on self- improvement. Emerson ’ s utopian group became known as “ The Transcendental Club ”. Emerson provided a series of lectures on self- improvement. Emerson ’ s utopian group became known as “ The Transcendental Club ”. Many utopian projects were created in an attempt to perfect society. Utopia = ideal and perfect state Moral law had to be adhered to, in order’ to satisfy all man’s individual and collective needs” Against ideas of Manifest Destiny

What does Transcendentalism mean? ► Definition: in determining the ultimate reality of God, the universe, the self and other important matters, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience in the physical world.

Where does Transcendentalism come from? The term transcendental came from 18th century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. The term transcendental came from 18th century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Transcendentalism originated from the past idea of Idealism (created by Greek philosopher Plato in 4th century BC). Transcendentalism originated from the past idea of Idealism (created by Greek philosopher Plato in 4th century BC). Idealism=true reality involved ideas rather than the world perceived by the senses. They wanted to look past physical appearances to see permanent reality and truth. Idealism=true reality involved ideas rather than the world perceived by the senses. They wanted to look past physical appearances to see permanent reality and truth. Transcendentalists were Idealists in a broader, more practical sense. They believed in human perfectibility as an achievable goal and worked to achieve it. Transcendentalists were Idealists in a broader, more practical sense. They believed in human perfectibility as an achievable goal and worked to achieve it.

Characteristics: Everything in the world, including human beings, is a reflection of the Divine Soul. Everything in the world, including human beings, is a reflection of the Divine Soul. The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world which hold important truths. The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world which hold important truths. People can use their intuition to behold God ’ s spirit revealed in nature or their own souls. People can use their intuition to behold God ’ s spirit revealed in nature or their own souls. Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality. Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality.

Most well-known Transcendentalist authors:  Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau

The most famous Transcendentalist… Ralph Waldo Emerson Emerson was the best-known and most influential transcendentalist. Puritan thought (God revealed himself through the Bible and the physical world) And the Romantic tradition (nature) He viewed the world based on intuition - the capacity to know things spontaneously and immediately through our emotions rather than through reason and logic. He possessed an intense feeling of optimism that stemmed from the belief that God could be found directly through nature (even tragic natural events such as death, disaster and disease).

Emerson’s beliefs continued… God is good and works through nature. Death, disease and disasters have a spiritual explanation. Evil stems from a separation from a direct, intuitive knowledge of God. One must know God directly to realize that they are a part of the Divine Soul (universe), which is the source of all good. The optimism of Emerson and transcendentalism was appealing because of what was happening in society at the time: economic downturns, regional strife, conflict over slavery.

The appeal of Emerson ’ s optimism and transcendentalism was a result of what was happening in society at the time: economic downturns, regional strife, conflict over slavery. The appeal of Emerson ’ s optimism and transcendentalism was a result of what was happening in society at the time: economic downturns, regional strife, conflict over slavery.

Great Minds Alcott and the Temple School – elementary school that stressed children’s innate divinity and encouraged its early discovery Alcott and the Temple School – elementary school that stressed children’s innate divinity and encouraged its early discovery Peabody – Kindergarten movement in U.S. Peabody – Kindergarten movement in U.S. Orestes Brownson – improving conditions of working class Orestes Brownson – improving conditions of working class Brook Farm Institute of Agric. And Educ./communal living Brook Farm Institute of Agric. And Educ./communal living

Fruitlands experiment in Harvard, Mass. – Fruitlands experiment in Harvard, Mass. – Vegetarian living Women’s rights – Margaret Fuller Women’s rights – Margaret Fuller Impoverished, mentally and phy challenged, imprisoned, institutionalized, enslaved – equals in spirituality/demanded reformation of asylums/prisons Impoverished, mentally and phy challenged, imprisoned, institutionalized, enslaved – equals in spirituality/demanded reformation of asylums/prisons Fought against the Fugitive Slave Law (1850) Fought against the Fugitive Slave Law (1850)

What became of the Movement? (1870’s) Emerson died in 1882 Emerson died in 1882 Focus became Individualism/individual rights – “deification of the individual” Focus became Individualism/individual rights – “deification of the individual” Market capitalism,not humanitarian reform Market capitalism,not humanitarian reform Samuel Osgood said, “The sect of Transcendentalists has disappeared because their light has gone everywhere.” Samuel Osgood said, “The sect of Transcendentalists has disappeared because their light has gone everywhere.”

In review... An individual is the _____center of the universe. An individual is the _____center of the universe. All knowledge begins with _______. All knowledge begins with _______. Transcendentalism is a form of ________. Transcendentalism is a form of ________. The human soul is part of the _________ The human soul is part of the _________ God can be found ___________. God can be found ___________. The whole world is a _________. The whole world is a _________. We must concern ourselves with _____life. We must concern ourselves with _____life.

Evil is merely the absence of ______; light is more powerful than darkness, as one ray of light penetrates the dark. Evil is merely the absence of ______; light is more powerful than darkness, as one ray of light penetrates the dark. Emphasis on self-________ and human thinking. Emphasis on self-________ and human thinking. One must have faith in __________. One must have faith in __________. True reform comes from _________. True reform comes from _________. It is foolish to worry about being ______. It is foolish to worry about being ______.

Thoreau historically through retrospect Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance against the British government in South Africa Gandhi’s nonviolent resistance against the British government in South Africa Civil rights Civil rights –“I do not wish to kill or be killed, but I can foresee circumstances in which both these things would be by me unavoidable.” (In defense of John Brown’s slavery revolt/connection with No. abolitionists)

Vietnam war protestors Vietnam war protestors –“Only the defeated and deserters go to the wars, cowards that run away and enlist.” –“Patriotism is a maggot in their heads.” Wall Street Wall Street Environmental groups (Lorax) Environmental groups (Lorax)