Transcendentalism : The And The Movement

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“Transcendentalism […] has primarily much the position of the sun […] We are conscious of it as of a kind of splendid confusion […] But the circle of the moon is as clear and unmistakable, as recurrent and inevitable, as the circle of Euclid on a blackboard” (Chesterton, 24). These words encapsulate the driving rationale of the anti-transcendentalist argument – that although individuals seek transcendentalism, they can never truly realize it, or, to compare with the sun, see it. Rather, they inevitably place attention on the “moon,” the perspicuous reflection of transcendentalism – that is, individualism – and neglect the responsibilities of society. Emerson institutes the philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay, Nature, teaching that divinity pervades all nature and humanity. Although transcendentalists would offer that man can only better his spiritual life by embracing individualism, pursuing the ideal, and being one with nature, the ability and appeal of transcendentalism to advance enlightenment upon the soul of the individual rests on the false suppositions that feckless man can achieve perfection and that nature embodies God, thus causing transcendentalism to conversely detriment the spiritual life of the individual, isolating him, prescribing his rebellion, and invigorating his selfish pursuits, simply because he confides his soul in creation instead of the Creator (Tocqueville, 482).

Furthermore, according to Jeremy Bradley, Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement in the 1800s. It was associated with a small yet active group of educators, activists, religious leaders that included Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Margaret Fuller. Ralph Emerson was the father of the group. However, he unenthusiastically accepted the role of leadership. He mostly favored to remain unnoticed,

American Transcendentalism was an important philosophical and literary movement which placed an emphasis on staying true to one’s beliefs and expressing oneself no matter the situation or consequence. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau fully embraced these beliefs as their influence has allowed these

During the 1830s and 1840s, Transcendentalism was influenced mostly by Ralph Waldo Emerson. When the idea was first created, Emerson and a small group of people got together to discuss philosophy, religion,

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be." Transcendentalist believed in being independent and self-reliant as well as appreciating nature. Transcendentalism occurred in the 1800s in the United States. Transcendentalist believed that one should not rely on others and should rely solely on themselves. They also believe that nature was important in the world and should not be taken for granted. Artist from 2000 up to now share these common beliefs with transcendentalist. One of these artist is Trisha Yearwood who had the song Real Live Woman. Another artist who has a song that follows their beliefs is Lee Ann Womack. Lee Ann Womack has the song I Hope You Dance which also follows along with the beliefs of transcendentalist. Some of the beliefs that transcendentalist had was believing in independence and they also believed in appreciating nature and everything in it for example Lee Ann Womack sings about nature and what happens in it and Trisha Yearwood in one of her songs sings about the importance of being self-reliant and independent she also talks about social reforms and not doing things that is set up by society.

Transcendentalism was an early philosophical, intellectual, and literary movement that thrived in New England in the nineteenth century. Transcendentalism was a collection of new ideas about literature, religion, and philosophy. It began as a squabble in the Unitarian church when intellectuals began questioning and reacting against many of the church’s orthodoxy ways regarding all of the aforementioned subjects: religion, culture, literature, social reform, and philosophy. They in turn developed their own faith focusing on the divinity of humanity and the innate world. Many of the Transcendentalists ideas were expressed heavily by Ralph Waldo Emerson, in his essays such as “Nature”, “Self Reliance”, and also in his poems such as “The

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement created in the 1830’s by Ralph Waldo Emerson, the author of Nature and Self Reliance, which refuted the intellectual and spiritual culture at the time. Although the movement eventually succumbed to the winds of time, it did not die quietly and it can still be heard today. The list of famous transcendentalists of the time include Henry David Thoreau, Walt Whitman, Emily DIckinson, and many more poets and authors whose pen has weathered the test of time. These transcendentalists believed in the basic ideologies of transcendentalism; all living things are connected by an oversoul which allows the human mind to connection to nature and realize the truths of the universe. Essentially,

The transcendentalism movement first came to be in the mid-19th century as a rebellious reaction to the Age of Reason, illustrated by Thomas Paine, and an overall conformist mindset in their rational way of thinking. Primarily started in New England, Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key component in this new philosophical era of intuitive, spiritual thinking. His unique style of literature (such as Self-Reliance and The American Scholar) as well as Henry David Thoreau’s Walden brought objective ideas into the open, while critiquing the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time. The core of the values of transcendentalism can be stemmed from a mix of Hindu teachings and

Transcendentalism was a group led by Emerson. It was a philosophical and literary movement that emphasized living a simple life and celebrating that truth found in nature and in personal emotion and imagination. The term came from Immanuel Kant, a German philosopher. He wrote about knowledge that exist beyond reason and experience.

Transcendentalism was a literary and philosophical movement in the mid to late 1800s. It was associated with a small but active group of educators, activists, and religious leaders including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Margaret Fuller, and Henry David Thoreau. The amount of people influenced by transcendentalism today continues to increase. In fact, many of the core values and beliefs of the transcendentist movement still affect American cultural and political views.

Transcendentalism in the nineteenth century brought in a wave of outstanding writers, poets, and philosophers in the literary world which then brought light to a whole new perspective of the American society by regularly challenging common societal traditions and beliefs. Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of many famous transcendentalists, and can be considered the leader of the transcendental movement. In Emerson’s essay, “Self-Reliance”, he focuses on the idea that a person should follow their own true nature disregarding what others say, and from this ideology, it reveals that people too often base their life decisions on what society considers to be right or wrong when people should be basing it off their own beliefs, because that is what will lead them to a happier and successful life.

Transcendentalism was the philosophical movement that emphasized the break from increasing formalized religion in the 19th century. The leading figure of Transcendentalism was the writer and speaker Ralph Waldo Emerson. However, there were many other figures associated with Transcendentalism: Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden; Amos Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa May Alcott; and Margaret Fuller, an early feminist writer and editor. The 19th century Transcendentalists, in their purest sense, were supposed to believe that all people were joined together in their equality with nature. And, like most philosophy in 19th century America, it did not apply to women as much as it did to men; transcendentalists acknowledged women as sharing that same soul, but women still had to fight for their equality in a patriarchal society. Emerson gives the open definition of Transcendentalism as, “a whole connection of spiritual doctrine” (“Defining Transcendentalism”). Emerson, however, fails to wholly connect all; because of Emerson’s exclusion of women, “he did not fully endorse the aspirations of the women in his milieu” (Cole 413). Walt Whitman, on the other hand, was an exceptional transcendentalist in that his philosophy did not only apply to land-owning white men, but to women. Whitman argues for women’s equality by analyzing them under the scope of transcendentalism; he deconstructs gender boundaries, redefines women as sexual beings, and defends their respectability as such.

Transcendentalism was a "literary and philosophical movement” that rejected materialism and the idea that religion is necessary to help humans achieve a spiritual experience. Transcendentalism began as a "religious concept", that inspired many to express their beliefs. This "new religious philosophy" was very popular and its main influence was on American religion, philosophy, politics, literature, and art." (Janet Mullane and Robert Thomas Wilson) This philosophy allowed people such as Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, and Walt Whitman, Theodore Parker, William Ellery Channing, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Emily Dickinson, and Edgar Allen Poe to express their feelings towards the transcendentalism movement.

Transcendentalism was largely influenced by the earlier Romantic Movement which was filled with innovative and imaginative ideas. Similar to the Romantic's Transcendentalist wanted to break away from the old European models of organized institutions such as religion and politics. There was also the strict confines of the Age of Reason's rationalist way of thinking that stirred up a rebellious reaction within the literary traditional period of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalist believed religion and politics negatively tainted an individual’s innocence.