1. Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Walden Pond, important Transcendental site
Re-creation of Thoreau’s cabin at Walden
Margaret Fuller
Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. Definition It’s a philosophy, not a religion (Reuben).
It’s a philosophy, not a religion (Reuben).
Individuals must rely on intuition more than reason and experience – “transcend” the physical and intellectual world (Applebee).
A loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform, and the general state of American culture (Silva).
Emerged in mid-1800s in New England (mostly Boston and Concord, MA)
Emerson’s home
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3. en.wikipedia.org
Origins
German philosopher Immanuel Kant popularized the term “transcendentalism” (SparkNotes). Kant claims that humans understand truth through reflection and introspection, not by studying the universe.
Emerson first expressed his philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay “Nature.”
Immanel Kant
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Rodin’s The Thinker

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The Oversoul
In Emerson’s essay “The Oversoul,” he asserted that individuals should rely on intuition instead of logic or the five senses.
When humans rely on intuition, they connect with the Oversoul, the great life spirit which connects all people.
The Oversoul unifies and connects us

5. Principle #1 An individual is the spiritual center of the universe.
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An individual is the spiritual center of the universe.
In other words, the individual is of utmost importance, and truth, beauty, and God are understood by first looking within oneself (Reuben).
Focus on the individual
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All answers lie within

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Principle #2
All knowledge begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself” (Reuben).
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7.
Principle #3
Transcendentalists believed nature to be mysterious and symbolic (Reuben).
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8. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson (1803 – 1882) was born in Boston, MA, the son of a Christian minister.
He attended Harvard College (now University) and later became a Unitarian minister in 1829.
After his wife died in 1831 (2 years after becoming a minister), Emerson resigned from the clergy.
Emerson wrote many notable essays including “Self Reliance,” which encouraged a spirit of individualism and “American Scholar,” which inspired Americans to develop a unique identity apart from Europe.
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9. commons.wikimedia.org
Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau (1817 – 1862) was a devoted follower of Emerson, and the two were close friends.
Thoreau famously wrote Walden, a book about his two year stay at Walden Pond outside Concord, MA. During that time, he built a hut and tried to live simply.
Most of the Transcendentalists were abolitionists, and Thoreau was especially outspoken. He also wrote an essay entitled “Slavery in Massachusetts.”
Interior of Thoreau’s hut

10. Margaret Fuller
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Margaret Fuller (1810 – 1849) had a reputation for being one of the most well-read people in all New England. In fact, it was believed that she was the only woman who had access to the library at Harvard College.
A talented writer, she edited The Dial, a Transcendental magazine. She also wrote the great Women in the Nineteenth Century.
Finally, she often spoke at Brook Farm, a Transcendental commune.
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Fuller notoriously had an affair
with an Italian nobleman. Later, she
bore a son, and then she died one year later.

11. Essential Questions How do people express their personalities?
How do people express their personalities?
How do different philosophies influence our society?
How does Transcendentalism influence us today?
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12. Works Cited
"Immanuel Kant." SparkNotes. SparkNotes LLC, Web. 2 Sept < "Ralph Waldo Emerson Biography." Biography.com. A+E Television Networks, Web. 2 Sept < waldo-emerson >. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 4: American Transcendentalism: A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature. Paul P Reuben, 24 Oct Web. 27 Aug < Silva, Freda. "Transcendentalism2." English 11. GroveSite, 28 Oct Web. 27 Aug <