Transcendentalism Historical Perspective Historical Perspective
Sought to create literary independence.and spiritual independence
Sought to create literary independence.and spiritual independence
Westward Expansion prevalent Westward Expansion prevalent Social
reforms prioritized (abolition of slavery, education, womens
rights) Social reforms prioritized (abolition of slavery,
education, womens rights) Movement during the American Renaissance
which included educated people. Movement during the American
Renaissance which included educated people. Population movement
from rural to urban areas Population movement from rural to urban
areas Time of Social Reforms ( peaceful) Time of Social Reforms (
peaceful)
Slide 3
Transcendentalism Major Elements The Individual The Individual
The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of
the individuals self The structure of the universe literally
duplicates the structure of the individuals self Know
Thyself!!!!!!!!!! Know Thyself!!!!!!!!!! An individuals virtue and
happiness depends upon Self Realization. An individuals virtue and
happiness depends upon Self Realization. Power is to be obtained by
defying fate/predestination Power is to be obtained by defying
fate/predestination It is foolish to worry about consistency It is
foolish to worry about consistency
Slide 4
Transcendentalism Major Elements The Individual..Self Reliance
The Individual..Self Reliance For completion of Self..must have
full understanding of emotional, sexual and psychological to
achieve freedom/liberation. For completion of Self..must have full
understanding of emotional, sexual and psychological to achieve
freedom/liberation. Mandala: self is most accurately itself when
all four parts in equal balance Mandala: self is most accurately
itself when all four parts in equal balance Ego Ego-emerging self
Anima AnimasAnima=female Animus=male Anima AnimasAnima=female
Animus=male ShadowShadow=darker side of self ShadowShadow=darker
side of self
Slide 5
Transcendentalism Major Concepts Nature Nature is
symbolic..pantheistic Oversoul Chathonic: of the earth born of
dust, return to dust God can be found in nature and human nature
Transcendentalism is a form of Idealism Evil is NegativeLight
(goodness) is more powerful than dark
Slide 6
Transcendentalism Major Elements Spiritual The intuitive
faculty(not rationality or sensory) becomes the means of conscious
union of the individual psyche ( Oversoul) An individual is the
spiritual center of the universe Individual may transcend lower
animalistic impulses of life..moving from the instinctual or
rational to the spiritual realm The human soul is part of the
oversoul/universal spirit Oversoul/Life Force/God can be found
everywhere God can be found in nature and human nature Focus on
this life..not aferlife Know God through intuitionnature Death is a
part of the cycle of life
Slide 7
Transcendentalism Oversoul Oversoul Source of all good Source
of all good Atma: each individual soul is made of the same
stufffrom the same stuff..univeral, world soul. Atma: each
individual soul is made of the same stufffrom the same
stuff..univeral, world soul. She did not go someplacenot away. She
went outeverywhere. She did not go someplacenot away. She went
outeverywhere. Interconnection of all humanity Interconnection of
all humanity
Slide 8
Oversoul Jungian Collective Unconscious Jungian Collective
Unconscious Experiences that all humans share regardless of time,
culture, religion (archetypes). Experiences that all humans share
regardless of time, culture, religion (archetypes). Goes beyond
human experience... Transcend!!!!!!!!!! Goes beyond human
experience... Transcend!!!!!!!!!! Freud (just to compare) Freud
(just to compare)
Slide 9
Transcendentalism Influences: Influences: Plato: idealism
according to which reality subsists beyond the appearances of the
world..that the world is an expression of spirit or mind..and IS
GOOD. Plato: idealism according to which reality subsists beyond
the appearances of the world..that the world is an expression of
spirit or mind..and IS GOOD. Immanual Kant: belief in the native
spontaneity of the mindrather than the passivity of John Locke
Immanual Kant: belief in the native spontaneity of the mindrather
than the passivity of John Locke Puritanism: ethical seriousness
and (Edwards) suggestion that one can receive divine light
immediately and directly. Puritanism: ethical seriousness and
(Edwards) suggestion that one can receive divine light immediately
and directly. Eastern Philosophy (Hinduism): Eastern Philosophy
(Hinduism): Impersonal, universal god who is omniscient, but not
judgmental Impersonal, universal god who is omniscient, but not
judgmental no good or bad.just is ( no Original Sin) no good or
bad.just is ( no Original Sin) Consciousness (not physicality) is
focus Consciousness (not physicality) is focus Use intuition Use
intuition Cannot have spiritual experience through another..must
obtain individually throught the self Cannot have spiritual
experience through another..must obtain individually throught the
self
Slide 10
Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson
Expressed the advantages of a young land with its freedom,
innocence, and access to laws directly through nature, not books.
Expressed the advantages of a young land with its freedom,
innocence, and access to laws directly through nature, not books.
Appealed to both intellectuals and the general public Appealed to
both intellectuals and the general public Emphasized the
connections between humans, nature and higher order Emphasized the
connections between humans, nature and higher order Emersons work
is plain on surface, yet has depth and substance Emersons work is
plain on surface, yet has depth and substance Set up as collection
of thoughts and memories, not organized essays Set up as collection
of thoughts and memories, not organized essays I am a poet I am a
poet Born into cultured, but poor family who were religiously
based. Born into cultured, but poor family who were religiously
based. Studied to be minister, but felt disbelief at central
doctrines Studied to be minister, but felt disbelief at central
doctrines Traveled to Europeenlightened Traveled to
Europeenlightened Formed the Transcendental Club Formed the
Transcendental Club After death of his son, Waldo, Emerson shrank
from society After death of his son, Waldo, Emerson shrank from
society
Slide 11
Emerson Transcendental beliefs Transcendental beliefs Denied
the importance of the past on present and future situations Denied
the importance of the past on present and future situations
Individual men and women were part of the idea of man Individual
men and women were part of the idea of man Since all things are
connected to a larger whole, even the commonest matters could open
a door to the eternal Since all things are connected to a larger
whole, even the commonest matters could open a door to the eternal
Rejection of institutional religion in favor of a personal relation
with God Rejection of institutional religion in favor of a personal
relation with God God always close and reveals Self everywhere and
at all times God always close and reveals Self everywhere and at
all times Within each individual lies a divinity that allows human
intuition to behold Gods spirit in nature Within each individual
lies a divinity that allows human intuition to behold Gods spirit
in nature Correspondence between natural law and moral law by use
of intuition allows humans to see Gods laws revealed ( in nature).
Correspondence between natural law and moral law by use of
intuition allows humans to see Gods laws revealed ( in
nature).
Slide 12
Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Self
un-made man Born in Concord, Mass. In 1817 to a successful family
Born in Concord, Mass. In 1817 to a successful family Grew up
hiking through the woods of Concord Grew up hiking through the
woods of Concord Graduated from Harvard as an above average student
with a rebellious streak. Graduated from Harvard as an above
average student with a rebellious streak. Stayed at Walden Pond for
nearly two years to reflect upon his life and live it simply and
close to nature. Stayed at Walden Pond for nearly two years to
reflect upon his life and live it simply and close to nature.
Helped fugitive slaves make their way to Canada Helped fugitive
slaves make their way to Canada Protested the Mexican Warrefused to
pay his taxes (which would support it) Protested the Mexican
Warrefused to pay his taxes (which would support it) spent night in
jail spent night in jail Moved back to family house to live the
rest of his life. Moved back to family house to live the rest of
his life. Supported himself by doing odd jobsmasonry, carpentry,
etc Supported himself by doing odd jobsmasonry, carpentry, etc Died
of Tuberculosis Died of Tuberculosis Henry, have you made peace
with God? Why, Aunt, I didnt know we had quarreled. Henry, have you
made peace with God? Why, Aunt, I didnt know we had quarreled.
Slide 13
Thoreau Transcendental Beliefs Transcendental Beliefs Believed
that the epic journey of his day was inwardto live close to nature
and live simply to rediscover integrity and greatness. Believed
that the epic journey of his day was inwardto live close to nature
and live simply to rediscover integrity and greatness. Looked to
nature for a model of life and writing because it contained
spiritual truth and reality Looked to nature for a model of life
and writing because it contained spiritual truth and reality
Possessed by a vision of perfect freedom in which one is their own
master Possessed by a vision of perfect freedom in which one is
their own master Life, as much of his writing, is Paradoxical.
Life, as much of his writing, is Paradoxical. One needed conscience
and the need for action to maintain it One needed conscience and
the need for action to maintain it Disliked hyprocisy Disliked
hyprocisy