"If a plant cannot live according to his nature, it dies; and so a man" (Emerson, Civil Disobedience, 260). Transcendentalism, as expressed by Emerson, is finding your own way to connect with yourself, who you are, and your peace with yourself. Your necessities. Your desires. Your nature. The only way to truly find your transcendentalism is to create your own path to get there. The two most prominent authorities on the philosophy are Ralph Waldo Emerson, "The Father of Transcendentalism", and Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism is comprised of beliefs regarding many different, yet connected concepts, such as simplicity, societal conformity, and self-reliance.
"Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity" (Thoreau, Walden, 253). Simplicity is one of the most basic ideals of transcendentalism. Thoreau saw that most lives were becoming consumed in the mindless details of the modern world. In order to defeat this, he decided he had to leave everything behind that was not absolutely necessary. When Thoreau moved to Walden Pond, it was to connect with nature, rely on his own self, but mostly to simplify all that he did not need to have. Thoreau despised how much was being wasted on meaningless specifics. "Our life is frittered away by detail" (Thoreau, Walden, 252). Because one of the main purposes of transcendentalism is to focus on what you need, instead of what you are told you need, simplicity is key. All unnecessary traditions and customs, that never applied to you or your beliefs in the first place, should be cast aside, and you should only do what is necessary for you to survive and achieve your transcendentalism. This whole concept means cutting back what is just a meaningless action or luxury. "Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary, eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five; and reduce other things in proportion" (Thoreau, Walden, 253). Do not simply eat three meals because that is what you have been told is the right way.
The concept of transcendentalism revolves around self-reliance and individuality. Transcendentalism is a philosophy based on the five primary ideas that construct it. ... The birth of transcendentalism was in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. ... Collectively, the two authors shared the same opinions and ideas towards transcendentalism. Self-reliance is a topic that is an immense part of transcendentalism. ...
The early 1800s also saw the rise of Romanticism, a movement that originated in Europe, and shortly after, transcendentalism. ... While they shared some similarities, Romanticism and Transcendentalism had many more differences. ... Transcendentalism, by contrast, emphasized intuition and rational thought above emotion. ... Transcendentalism also belittled the idea of predestination, that all people are sinners and are incapable of escaping their fates. ... " (Baym, 222) The philosophical movements of Romanticism and Transcendentalism had a lasting impact on American culture. ...
Transcendentalism Transcendentalism is a literary movement that believes reality only exists in the world of the spirt, and that all knowlige comes from self knowlige. ... He is considered the "father of Transcendentalism." ... Which makes is different form the European transcendentalism movement be for it. The Transcendentalism movement died out in the 1860's, but it has had lasting effects until today. ... And this is also what makes if different from other forms of Transcendentalism. ...
Transcendentalism Essay " Transcendentalism is the belief that man can intuitively transcend the limits of the sense's and logic to receive higher truths and greater knowledge." Transcendentalism was a philosophy that was popular during the 1820's in New England. There are many elements that make up the ideas of transcendentalism. When transcendentalism is mentioned, two men in general are thought of. ... Some of the elements of transcendentalism include how man should live close to nature. ...
Define the term "Transcendentalism" and give its main representatives. American Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement which took place during the late 1820s and 1830s. ... Transcendentalism derived some of its idealistic concepts from romantic German philosophy notably that of Immanuel Kant, and from such English authors as Carlyle, Coleridge and Wordsworth. ... One of the clearest statements of the ideas of Transcendentalism was presented by Ralph Waldo Emerson in his little book "Nature" (published in 1836). ... Another representative of Transcendentalism - ...
Transcendentalism Transcendentalism views include the notion that all humanity is good, the glories of nature, and the importance of individual expression without interference. ... An example of this view of Transcendentalism is when Emerson says in his short story Self-Reliance that "he who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness." ...
Arguably, the two men at the forefront of transcendentalism were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism is defined as "any system of philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical and material." Transcendentalism can somewhat be understood by its context - what the transcendentalists remonstrated against, what they viewed as the relation to their time, therefore, were trying to be non-conformists of their time. Transcendentalism is, in a way, a philosophy of its own. ...
In the 1830s and 1840s, a style of writing emerged known as transcendentalism. ... Thoreau had a profound effect on transcendentalism because he not only talked about it, but he also made the decision to do something and put these thoughts into action. ... The reason that he thought that this was so bad was because transcendentalism relies on looking at the whole, not the parts. ...
Transcendentalism- is a literary and philosophical movement, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. ... To me, transcendentalism is a philosophy of life. ...