Transcendentalism

To Transcend “To rise above” “To go beyond the limits of” trans (across) scandere (to climb)

Given these definitions, what do you think the philosophy of Transcendentalism is about?

Transcendentalism A philosophical, literary, and political movement in the 1830’s and 40’s in America (mostly New England) that revolutionized American literature!

Was a protest against some of the norms and traditions of the time...

Societal Climate of New England 1830’s Almost everyone went to church Looked to Europe for inspiration/imitation Valued sense of duty & obedience to doctrine taught Saw women as inferior to men Believed God is separate from people Truth comes from outside teachings Old North Church, Boston

Transcendentalist Club of Boston, 1830’s Were not satisfied with dry church doctrine Championed their own American inspiration Valued each person’s access to inner truth (a radical belief at the time) Saw women as equal to men, & slaves as humans All nature and people are part of God – an “Over-Soul” Truth comes from inside people – intuition – mysticism

These radical ideas of the time… profoundly influenced American literature, as it became more reflective and inspired by nature and experience (took on a journal-writing style) championed the individualism and self-reliance that America became known for

Famous Transcendentalists – Ralph Waldo Emerson – wrote essays “Nature” and “Self-Reliance” – Henry David Thoreau – wrote book Walden and essay “Civil Disobedience”- inspired Ghandi – Louisa May Alcott – American author who wrote Little Women – Emily Dickinson, American poet – Walt Whitman, American poet – John Muir – American who founded the Sierra Club and devoted his life to the preservation of forests – Jack London- American author who wrote The Call of the Wild and White Fang

Modern day – How might we recognize a modern-day transcendentalist? Characteristics: – Protective of/interested in nature – Idealist – Mystic – Disdains materialism – Rebel/rogue – Seeks truth through intuition – Rejects societal rules – Can feel hemmed in by education or religious dogma – Chris McCandless, the main character in Into the Wild, is a modern-day transcendentalist.