1. Transcendentalism
The Original Hippies

2. Beginnings
Transcendentalism grew out of European Romanticism, which focused on truth rather than reason
Romanticism was a reaction against the Enlightenment era, which elevated rational thought, reason, and experimentation above truth and God
Romanticism
Dark Romanticism
Transcendentalism

3. What is Transcendentalism?
The term ”Transcendentalism” was coined by German philosopher Immanuel Kant ( ), when he argued that truth can only be attained when you “transcend” empiricism.
Definitions of Transcendentalism on the Internet
Dark Romanticism
Transcendentalism

4. Beginnings
In the 1830s-1860s utopian projects -- plans for creating the “perfect society”-- were one type of social reform.
One of these groups, led by Ralph Waldo Emerson and Unitarian minister George Putnam, was called The Transcendental Club (1836)

5. a definition
“Transcendental” is a word created by German philosopher Immanuel Kant, referring to the idea that:
True reality involves ideas and intuition, rather than your physical senses. True reality is beneath the surface.

6. Transcendentalism shares some of its beliefs with romanticism:
Values
Transcendentalism shares some of its beliefs with romanticism:
Individualism is more important than following authority or blind conformity.
It is better to follow your feelings and intuition than to use reason and rational thought. Truth/God cannot be known through empirical observation, only through theoretical deduction (“a priori”)
People are basically good and can achieve perfection.
Nature can teach us spiritual lessons. In fact, the Transcendentalist church was the outside world, rather than one building.

7. These beliefs are unique to transcendentalism:
Values
These beliefs are unique to transcendentalism:
God is called the “Divine Soul” or “Oversoul” (Emerson, 1844) and everything is a part of it. God is good and works through the cycles of nature.
Many transcendentalists were Unitarians who rejected the doctrine of the “trinity” and believed God was one unified being

8. These beliefs are unique to transcendentalism:
Values
These beliefs are unique to transcendentalism:
Humans only do evil things because we are separated from God.
If humans only trusted in our power to know God, we would understand that we’re all part of it, and our lives could be perfected.

9. Transcendentalist Writing
important writers
Ralph Waldo Emerson ( )
Essay “Self Reliance” (1844)
Margaret Fuller (-1850)
Henry David Thoreau ( )
Essay “On Civil Disobedience” (1849)
Walden, or Life in the Woods (1854)

10. how it affected us
Many social reform movements were founded during this time to: improve public education, end slavery, raise the status of women, and help society’s less fortunate.

11. How it affected us
Many people, including Martin Luther King Jr. used ideas from Thoreau’s essay on civil disobedience to inspire nonviolent protests.

12. Annie Dillard Is Annie Dillard a “modern-day” Transcendentalist?
What traits does Dillard and her writing have in common with Transcendentalism?
Comparison between Annie Dillard and the Transcendentalists
Another link to Dillard and Transcendentalists