Introduction to Transcendentalism

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Introduction to Transcendentalism
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What is Transcendentalism?

• Transcendentalism
• Is a spiritual belief system
• Was a philosophical movement
• Was a literary movement
• Began in the 1830s in Concord, Massachusetts
• Is considered the first truly American
  philosophical and literary movement

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The Basic Premises of Transcendentalism

• Belief that an individual is the spiritual center
  of the universe
• So within each individual lie the clues to
  nature and history
• All knowledge begins with self-knowledge.
• Nature is a living mystery full of signs
• Nature is symbolic and spiritual
• One must have faith in intuition, for no church
  or traditional creed can communicate truth.

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Three Categories

• We will focus on and study Transcendentalist
  principles that fall in three categories
• To Thine Own Self Be True
• Au Natural
• Fight for Your Rights

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To Thine Own Self Be True

• Text Self-Reliance
• Author Ralph Waldo Emerson
• Philosopher, poet, preacher, and essayist
• Known for his use of aphorisms in his writing

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To Thine Own Self Be TrueSelf-Reliance
Principles

• Determine Truth for Yourself- Only accept those
  traditions which appear to be true reject the
  rest.
• Know Thyself- Become a person of principle and
  then live by those principles, even if the
  majority of society doesnt agree.
• Be Yourself- Exercise the self-discipline
  necessary to study oneself in relation to nature.

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Au Natural

• Text Walden
• Author Henry David Thoreau
• Essayist teacher
• He lived in isolation on Walden Pond for two
  years to learn from Nature

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Au Natural Walden Principles

• God as Nature- God is in man and in all living
  things.
• Contemplation of Divine Nature and Nature- It is
  best to live as close to nature as possible, for
  there a person can most successfully contemplate
  his/her reason for being.
• Time and Personal Growth- Work (for money) only
  enough to fulfill basic needs. Dedicate the rest
  of your time to personal growth.
• Physical and Mental Work- People should be both
  physically and intellectually active throughout
  life.

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Fight For Your Rights

• Text Civil Disobedience
• Author Henry David Thoreau
• Wrote this essay while in jail for refusing to
  pay taxes that funded a war that he didnt
  believe in.

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Fight For Your RightsCivil Disobedience
Principles

• Least Government Best- Have to courage to
  practice some form of non-violent protest if a
  law violates your principles, even if you must
  suffer the consequences.
• Four Tenants of Civil Disobedience-
• You must know the law
• You must appeal to a higher law (morality, God)
• You must know the consequences for violating the
  law
• You must choose to suffer the consequences