1. Principles of Transcendentalism

2. Transcendentalism Philosophical and literary movement during the middle of the 19 th century (1836 – 1860) Most notable figures are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau

3. Transcendentalism Religious and philosophical doctrines that emphasize the importance of individual inspiration; mind-search – belief in things without proof; divinity can be found through nature.

4. Transcendentalism, cont. 1. Importance of nature 2. Self-reliance – depend on yourself, non-conformity 3. Importance of the individual

5. Transcendentalism, cont. 4. Belief in intuition – look for truth in yourself and in nature; transcend the senses.

6. Transcendentalism, cont. 5. Oversoul – direct relationship with God; a personal matter to be established by individual himself rather than through church/priest intervention. Spiritual life is very important.

7. Transcendentalism Meat of the Philosophy Logic and reason give way to intuition Spiritual facts lie in nature Self-examination is key – the individual is very important

8. Transcendentalism Meat of the Philosophy All things (living and “not” living) are connected and are part of a divine plan - Oversoul

9. Transcendentalism Keys to remember The soul of each individual is identical with the soul of the world and contains what the world contains

10. Transcendentalism Keys to remember Approaching the Creator through the creation … glorification of nature, the simple life and the common man

11. The individual communes with nature and through intuition reaches the oversoul.

12. Emerson says … Envy is ignorance

13. Emerson says … Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

14. Emerson says … Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

15. Emerson says … This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.

16. Emerson says … Insist on yourself; never imitate.

17. Emerson says … What is the hardest task in the world? To think.

18. Emerson says … Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

19. Emerson says … Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

20. Emerson says … A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.

21. Emerson says … The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.

22. Thoreau’s Transcendentalist Principles

23. God as Nature Look inside yourself for divine guidance in learning to understand the nature of God.

24. Contemplation of Divine Nature and Nature Live life close to nature for there a person can most successfully contemplate his reason for being

25. Search for Meaning A person should devote himself to the search for the meaning of oneself and other living things, not in the accumulation of material goods.

26. Physical and Mental Work A person should be both physically and intellectually active throughout life.

27. Know Thyself Thoreau believed the best way to “know oneself” was to become a person of principle and then to live life by these principles.

28. Know Thyself These principles can be found through contemplating self and through working close to nature.

29. Know Thyself Having developed this personal code, a person should abide by it, even if such action puts the person in conflict with the majority of society.

30. Know Thyself Follow the dictates of your own conscience.

31. Time and Personal Growth A person should work for money only such time as is necessary to fulfill his basic needs.

32. Time and Personal Growth Give time priority to personal growth rather than working for money.

33. Least Government Best A person should have the courage to practice some form of non-violent law- breaking if he believes the law to be in violation of his principles.

34. Least Government Best Of course, he also has to be willing to take the consequences that the government might invoke.

35. Determine Truth for Yourself A person should accept only those traditions which appear to be true and should reject the rest.

36. Determine Truth for Yourself This principle therefore requires “living today for today” since yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

37. Be Yourself This ninth principle, in a sense, is a summation of all the rest.

38. Be Yourself Thoreau believed that if a person will exercise the self-discipline necessary for the study of himself in relation to nature and mankind as outlined by the first eight principles, he will have a rich, rewarding life.

39. Be Yourself Consequently, the last principle is to be yourself by exercising the self- discipline necessary to live by the first eight principles.