2. Transcendentalism & Ralph Waldo Emerson

3. Transcendentalism l (1) Resources l (2) Features l (3) Significance

4. Resources a special kind of philosophy appeared in the 1830s in US,quite influential l A. Puritan heritage At the end of the 18th century people gradually felt boring about the strict Calvinism. At the same time with the development of science and technology, Americans suspected the old religion. Thus, Unitarianism （唯一理教） appeared. It was a developed school from the Transcendentalism. It stressed "continual progress of mankind" rather than old religion's "man ’ s total depravity ”. It influenced Emerson. Emerson once was a preacher of Unitarianism, but he thought there were too many rituals in this religious school. Then he resigned from the position and sought a way for people to worship more freely. Emerson also believed in individuality and the dream of making a Garden of Eden on earth held by old generation Puritans. From Jonathan Edwards Emerson inherited the ideas of inward communication with God and the divine symbolism of nature.

5. Resources B. Foreign influence German Philosophy, especially Kant( 康德 ) Ancient Indian and Chinese works, such as Confucius and Mencius

6. Features l A. Emphasis on Spirit (Oversoul) ( 超灵 ) against “ world is made of matter ” ; against “ neglecting of spiritual life in capitalist world ” l B. Emphasis on individuals Old Puritan views: self-reliance and self-improvement Through communication with Oversoul, human being can be divine. against “ total depravity ” in Old Puritan doctrines against dehumanization of capitalist world l C. Taking nature as the symbol of the Spirit (Oversoul) encouraging people to find goodness and beauty from nature against materialism in the society and the actions which broke the harmony between human and nature only for profits l D. Brotherhood of man (equal and liberty) interested in social reforms; endeavor to create an ideal society; against “ everything for money ” in the capitalist world

7. Significance l A. influenced a large group of writers l B. summit of American Romanticism l C. marked the independence of American literature

8. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) l an American essayist, philosopher, poet, and leader of the transcendentalist movement in the early 19th century. His teachings directly influenced the growing New Thought movement of the mid 1800s.

9. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882) l Life l Major works l Aesthetics and significance l Limitation

10. Life born in a clergyman ’ s family in New England l graduated from Harvard l a Unitarian minister l abandoned Unitarianism and went to Europe searching for truth l founded a Transcendentalists' Club and published a journal l traveled and gave lectures; quite influential

11. Major works l Nature a book which declared the birth of Transcendentalism Some other essays preaching his thoughts: " The Poet ", " Self-reliance " and " The American Scholar " (American's Declaration of Intellectual Independence)

12. Aesthetics In Emerson ’ s opinion, poets should function as preachers who gave directions to the mass. l True poetry should serve as a moral purification l The argument (or his thought or experience) should decide the form of the poem instead of traditional techniques. l The poets should express his thought in symbols. l Poets should use words for their pictorial and imaginative meaning. l As to theme, Emerson called upon American authors to writer about peculiar American matters.

13. Significance Emerson ’ s aesthetics brought about a revolution in American literature in general and in American poetry in particular. It marked the birth of true American poetry and true American poets.

14. Limitation His reputation fell in the 20th century because he firmly believed human and human society could be better. It seemed that he had no sense of evil and too optimistic about human nature and the society. Somebody once called this kind of optimism "Transcendental folly".

15. The End The End