1. Transcendentalism

2. Definitions There is an ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical. There is an ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical. "Transcendentalism was, at its core, a philosophy of naked individualism, aimed at the creation of the new American, the self-reliant man, complete and independent" (Warren 22). The new and independent American promotes nonconformity and free thought. "Transcendentalism was, at its core, a philosophy of naked individualism, aimed at the creation of the new American, the self-reliant man, complete and independent" (Warren 22). The new and independent American promotes nonconformity and free thought. Collection of ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform and the general state of American culture. Collection of ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform and the general state of American culture. It is not a religion—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality. It is not a religion—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality.

3. Influences From Plato came the idealism according to which reality subsists beyond the appearances of the world. Plato also suggests that the world is an expression of spirit, or mind, which is sheer intelligibility and therefore good. From Plato came the idealism according to which reality subsists beyond the appearances of the world. Plato also suggests that the world is an expression of spirit, or mind, which is sheer intelligibility and therefore good. From Immanuel Kant came the notion of the 'native spontaneity of the human mind' against the passive conception of the 18th c. sensational theory (also known as the philosophy of empiricism of John Locke and David Hume; the concept that the mind begins as a tabula rasa and that all knowledge develops from sensation). From Immanuel Kant came the notion of the 'native spontaneity of the human mind' against the passive conception of the 18th c. sensational theory (also known as the philosophy of empiricism of John Locke and David Hume; the concept that the mind begins as a tabula rasa and that all knowledge develops from sensation). From Coleridge came the importance of wonder, of antirationalism, and the importance of individual consciousness. From Coleridge came the importance of wonder, of antirationalism, and the importance of individual consciousness. From Puritanism came the ethical seriousness and the aspect of Jonathan Edwards that suggested that an individual can receive divine light immediately and directly. It began as a reform movement from the orthodoxy of Calvinism and the rationalism of the Unitarian church. It was a rebellion against traditionally held beliefs by the English Church that God superseded the individual (Warren). From Puritanism came the ethical seriousness and the aspect of Jonathan Edwards that suggested that an individual can receive divine light immediately and directly. It began as a reform movement from the orthodoxy of Calvinism and the rationalism of the Unitarian church. It was a rebellion against traditionally held beliefs by the English Church that God superseded the individual (Warren).

4. Basic Premise #1 An individual is the spiritual center of the universe, and within an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual (Reuben). God is immanent in each person and in nature. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe, and within an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual (Reuben). God is immanent in each person and in nature.

5. Basic Premise #2 The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self- knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself“ (Reuben). Individual intuition is the highest source of knowledge led to an optimistic emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and rejection of traditional authority = free thought, nonconformity.

6. Basic Premise #3 Transcendentalists accepted the concept of nature as a living mystery, full of signs – Transcendentalists accepted the concept of nature as a living mystery, full of signs – nature is symbolic.

7. Basic Premise #4 The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self- realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies: 1. The desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world. 2. The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence This dualism assumes our two psychological needs; the contracting: being unique, different, special, having a racial identity, ego-centered, selfish, and so on; the expansive: being the same as others, altruistic, be one of the human race, and so on. This dualism assumes our two psychological needs; the contracting: being unique, different, special, having a racial identity, ego-centered, selfish, and so on; the expansive: being the same as others, altruistic, be one of the human race, and so on. The transcendentalist expectation is to move from the contracting to the expansive. This dualism has aspects of Freudian id and superego; the Jungian shadow and persona, the Chinese ying/yang, and the Hindu movement from Atman (egotistic existence) to Brahma (cosmic existence) (Reuben). The transcendentalist expectation is to move from the contracting to the expansive. This dualism has aspects of Freudian id and superego; the Jungian shadow and persona, the Chinese ying/yang, and the Hindu movement from Atman (egotistic existence) to Brahma (cosmic existence) (Reuben). If happiness depends on the individual and self-realization, Transcendentalists promote self-confidence to attain and reach goals.

8. Who were the Transcendentalists? Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Amos Bronson Alcott Amos Bronson Alcott Amos Bronson Alcott Amos Bronson Alcott Margaret Fuller Margaret Fuller Margaret Fuller Margaret Fuller Ellery Channing Ellery Channing Ellery Channing Ellery Channing

9. Ralph Waldo Emerson 1803-1882 1803-1882 Unitarian minister Unitarian minister Poet and essayist Poet and essayist Founded the Transcendental Club Founded the Transcendental Club Popular lecturer Popular lecturer Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity School address Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity School address Supporter of abolitionism Supporter of abolitionism

10. Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862 1817-1862 Schoolteacher, essayist, poet Schoolteacher, essayist, poet Most famous for Walden and Civil Disobedience Most famous for Walden and Civil Disobedience Influenced environmental movement Influenced environmental movement Supporter of abolitionism Supporter of abolitionism

11. Amos Bronson Alcott 1799-1888 1799-1888 Teacher and writer Teacher and writer Founder of Temple School and Fruitlands Founder of Temple School and Fruitlands Introduced art, music, P.E., nature study, and field trips; banished corporal punishment Introduced art, music, P.E., nature study, and field trips; banished corporal punishment Father of novelist Louisa May Alcott Father of novelist Louisa May Alcott

12. Margaret Fuller 1810-1850 1810-1850 Journalist, critic, women’s rights activist Journalist, critic, women’s rights activist First editor of The Dial, a transcendental journal First editor of The Dial, a transcendental journal First female journalist to work on a major newspaper—The New York Tribune First female journalist to work on a major newspaper—The New York Tribune Taught at Alcott’s Temple School Taught at Alcott’s Temple School

13. Ellery Channing 1818-1901 1818-1901 Poet and especially close friend of Thoreau Poet and especially close friend of Thoreau Published the first biography of Thoreau in 1873—Thoreau, The Poet-Naturalist Published the first biography of Thoreau in 1873—Thoreau, The Poet-Naturalist

14. Resources American Transcendental Web: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html American Transcendental Web: http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html American Transcendentalism: http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm American Transcendentalism: http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 4: American Transcendentalism: A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. URL: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html. Reuben, Paul P. "Chapter 4: American Transcendentalism: A Brief Introduction." PAL: Perspectives in American Literature- A Research and Reference Guide. URL: http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html. http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html Warren, Robert Penn, Cleanth Brooks, and R. W. B. Lewis. "A National Literature and Romantic Individualism." Romanticism. eds. James Barbour and Thomas Quirk. NY: Garland, 1986. Warren, Robert Penn, Cleanth Brooks, and R. W. B. Lewis. "A National Literature and Romantic Individualism." Romanticism. eds. James Barbour and Thomas Quirk. NY: Garland, 1986.