Transcendentalism
Henry David Thoreau
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Transcendentalism
• Early 1800’s movement in 3 areas:
• Literature
Philosophy
•
Henry
David Thoreau
•
Spirituality
•
Ralph
Waldo Emerson
•
• Centers on a belief that we can only reach
our truest potential when we “rise above”
the limitations that society places on us.
Inspiration/Background
Transcendentalism
• This was part of America’s Romantic Period.
Henry David Thoreau
•
• The Romantics were poets/artists rebelling
Ralph Waldo
the Emerson
Enlightenment (a.k.a.: The Age
•AGAINST
of Reason).
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vs.
ENLIGHTENMENT
1700’s
Like cities
Thought
Reason
• Henry David Thoreau
Logic
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
Complex
Rational
Experiments/facts
Society: norms & systems
Change
Strength of Society
Standardized religion
ROMANTICISM
1800’s
Like nature
Emotion
Imagination
Intuition
Simple
Mysterious
Opinions/Personal truth
Nature: wild & untamed
Tradition
Spirit of Individual
Personal religion;
supernatural
•
Transcendentalism
•
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Transcendental
Transcendentalism
Beliefs
Transcendentalists believe in a balance of
both Enlightenment & Romanticism.
Henry David Thoreau
•• Don’t
want to discredit the genius of
Ralph Enlightenment
Waldo Emerson thinkers.
• many
• But being born out of Romanticism, it
has undeniable biases towards it.
CARPE DIEM
Transcendentalism
• Live your life now so that you don’t
regretDavid
or fear
Thoreau
death.
• Henry
Death
Waldo
is mysterious,
Emerson and that’s the way it
• •Ralph
should be.
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Transcendentalism
• Everything in the Universe comes from
•
••
• We are all a part of everything.
the same
Henry
Davidsource.
Thoreau
Everything
the same energy.
Ralph
Waldo shares
Emerson
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Transcendentalism
• They believe that …
• God
David Thoreau
The Universe
• •Henry
Waldo
• •Ralph
Nature
(notEmerson
nature)
• The Great Spirit
• The Force
...are all the same thing.
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Transcendentalism
• Religiously, they are pantheists (pantheism).
Pan = all, Theos = God
•
Henry David Thoreau
•God
all things
• Ralphis inWaldo
Emerson
• or that God
is all things.
•
• (Don’t confuse with Polytheism - many gods)
INTERCONNECTEDNESS
Transcendentalism
believe in miracles.
••They
Henry David Thoreau
Not everything needs to have an
•
Waldo Emerson
• Ralph
explanation.
NONCONFORMITY
Transcendentalism
• Don’t follow the crowd.
• Believe in yourself.
thereDavid
is a catch….
••ButHenry
Thoreau
when you declare yourself a
••What
Ralphhappens
Waldo Emerson
nonconformist?
• You are conforming to all the other
nonconformists.
Transcendentalism
• Henry David Thoreau
• Ralph Waldo Emerson
POLARITY
Transcendentalism
• They understand the balance of opposing
forces in the world.
Henry
have
David
oneThoreau
without the other
••Can’t
Ralph
doWaldo
you know
Emerson
what light is without
••How
having experienced darkness?
• Good/evil, male/female, up/down, etc.
LESS IS MORE
Transcendentalism
• Emphasized a “back to basics” attitude
• Simplify your life
Henry
Thoreau
toDavid
love what
you already have
••Learn
Ralphless
Waldo
Emerson
“clutter”
in your life, you have
••With
more time to truly enjoy it.
• Things add stress to your life.
Personal Choice
40%
Genes
50%
External Factors
10%
TRUE HAPPINESS ONLY
Transcendentalism
COMES FROM WITHIN
•
Do not place your emotional well-being in the hands of
anyone or anything else than yourself.
•
YOU are the only reliable constant in your life.
• Henry David Thoreau
end, things break, but YOU will never leave.
• Relationships
Ralph Waldo Emerson
•
• Be proud of who you are.
• Learn to love yourself.