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Morgan Meyer
Mrs. Aycock
AP Language and Composition
13 December 2018
Transcendentalism’s Prevalence in Modern Society
The concept of Transcendentalism emerged in the United States in the early nineteenth
century. As one of the first significant literary movements in early America, this belief system
helped to shape and influence societal norms and culture in the young country.
Transcendentalism’s key belief is that through nature, one can find peace and strength with God,
and it is centered primarily around an intuitive and mind-opening experience (Robinson, 6).
Transcendentalism is still widely prevalent in modern society and is incredibly effective and
beneficial. It’s presence lies in contemporary minimalism and the resurgence of nature-based
faith and ideologies.
Now, Transcendentalism was at first a religious movement that emerged in the early
nineteenth century. Transcendentalism gradually grew and developed into a literary, social, and
political phenomenon. In fact, works by Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and
Margaret Fuller are still widely read and admired by many people to this day. One of Thoreau’s
books, Walden, regales his time living a simple, nature-oriented life in the woods near Walden
pond. Jack London, another prominent transcendentalist, wrote about adventure and his time in
Alaska. Transcendentalism is still present due to idolization of these authors. Chris
McCandless’s reverence of them led him to abandon his home and parents and hitchhike his way
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around the country. McCandless eventually died because of his craving for an adventure in
Alaska, which demonstrates the widespread influence of these literary icons(Krakauer, 45).
Another way in which Transcendentalism is still prevalent in society is through minimalism.
Minimalism is defined as anti-consumer oriented social practices(Dopierala, 68). Minimalists
seek meaning in life by means other than consumerism and a quarter believe is that owning less
belongings brings you to a better life and more peace within yourself and for some, Minimalism
is defined as anti-consumer oriented social practices. Minimalists seek meaning in life by means
other than consumerism and a core belief is that owning less belongings brings you to a better
life and more peace within yourself. For some, it means a closer relationship with their God. In
order to truly become a minimalist, people identify what they deem unnecessary in their life and
lessen their reliance on that. Transcendentalists identified with these beliefs as well. This is
evident in the book Into The Wild by John Krakauer, which tells the story of a young man who
went into the woods searching for adventure and self-discovery and never came back. Someone
who knew this man, named Chris McCandless, stated that “Chris was very much of the school
that you should own nothing except what you can carry on your back at a dead run.”(Krakauer,
32) McCandless was a die hard Transcendentalist, and idolized the work of prominent authors
during the time period, like Jack London and Thoreau. Clearly, due to their uncannily similar
beliefs, Minimalism and Transcendentalism are inextricably linked. Furthermore, research
conducted at the University of Lodz concluded that many minimalists are vegetarians or vegans.
It is commonly known that vegetarians and vegans consume only plant based diets. Many
vegans spend time in nature and hike extensively, and are usually animal rights activists. Now,
this is relevant because from 2006 to 2016, there was a 350% rise in the number of vegans in
England and a 600% rise in America(Hancox, 5). Because most vegans are animal rights
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activists and work to protect nature, there is a clear parallel between their social activism and
early Transcendentalists’ social activism. Early Transcendentalists participated in advocating for
women’s rights and abolition.
In conclusion, the idea of Transcendentalism emerged in the United States in the early
nineteenth century. Its influence on society and its ideas truly shaped the America we know
today. Transcendentalism is heavily based on nature. One can find God and spirituality by
achieving peace with nature and by extension, oneself. From the evidence presented in this
essay, it is clear that Transcendentalism is still widely prevalent in modern society and is
incredibly effective and beneficial. It’s presence lies in contemporary minimalism and the
resurgence of nature-based faith and ideologies, such as veganism and vegetarianism.
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Works Cited
Robinson, David M. “Transcendentalism.” Oxford Research Encyclopedias, Oxford Research
Encyclopedia- American History, 8 June 2017,
oxfordre.com/americanhistory/abstract/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acref
ore-9780199329175-e-116?rskey=myIHzE&result=4.
Dopierala, Renata. “Minimalism – a New Mode of Consumption?” Przegląd Socjologiczny, vol.
66, no. 4, 2017, doi:10.26485/ps/2017/66.4/4.
Hancox, Dan. “The Unstoppable Rise of Veganism: How a Fringe Movement Went
Mainstream.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 1 Apr. 2018,
www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/01/vegans-are-coming-millennials-healthclimate-change-animal-welfare.
Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. S.l.: PICADOR, 1996.