Transcendentalism: The Antidote to Brainwashed Youth Essay

‘Walden’ is written by Henry David Thoreau and published in 1854. This art of work is a product of a real experience and inspired by the transcendentalism movement. Not only his writing style is inspired by transcendentalism but also Thoreau applied this movement, idea in his life style and wanted to experience this idea. It can be said that transcendentalism is not only an idea for Thoreau, but it is also must be put into practice in real life and this shows his pragmatic approach.

Transcendentalism is a literary movement in the 1830s that suggest that every individual is capable discovering higher truth through intuition. Transcendentalist live by 5 tenets which are the importance of nature, self-reliance, simplicity, self-trust/confidence, and nonconformity. The movie Dead Poets Society is about a teacher who teaches his group of students how to live transcendental. The movie shows great acts of transcendentalism through each of the characters using the different tenets. Mr. Keating and Knox Overstreet in dead poets society shows that living transcentally is worth the consequences.

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement developed in the early-19 century. This literary movement based on the importance of God, man and nature, allowed numerous authors to become known. Nowadays, in a society full of innovations and in which nature is becoming less and less important, some people still feel the need to live far from the cities, in the wilderness, and still appreciate the simple things of life. Chris McCandless was one of them and decided to live a simple life by following the basic ideas of transcendentalism.

Transcendentalism is an idealistic,philosophical,and social movement that developed in New England around 1836. It taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity and that by experiencing nature one could experience divinity. A Transcendentalist is someone who lives outside the confines of societys rules, finding inspiration and meaning through experiencing nature. Transcendentalism rose as a reaction against 18th century rationalism,sensualism ,and calvinism, it is composed of a variety of ideals spanning from Hindu texts and other such various religions. Several authors came about that influenced and pushed the transcendental movement to progress and evolve past what it originally was, among them being Ralph Waldo Emerson, (who is credited with pushing Transcendentalism to become a major cultural movement) and other such

Henry Thoreau’s masterpiece, Walden or a Life in the Woods, shows the impact transcendentalism had on Thoreau’s worldview. Transcendentalism is a philosophy that asserts the primacy of the spiritual over the material. Transcendentalism puts the emphasis on spiritual growth and understanding as opposed to worldly pleasures. Thoreau’s idea of transcendentalism stressed the importance of nature and being close to nature. He believed that nature was a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. A walk in the woods therefore was a search for spiritual enlightenment. One should look ‘through’ nature, not merely ‘at’ her.

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

Thoreau, Emerson, and even Chris McCandless promoted peace, individualism, and the respect of all forms of nature. Transcendentalist authors encourage readers not only to express individual ideas, but to not be bothered by or conform to society. I believe these are wonderful lessons for every person to learn. These same ideas can be applied to my daily life in that I should be my own self and not a “follower” of the crowd. Next, transcendentalists advocate for a constant and increased respect of nature. As a person who loves to spend time outside, I agree with this idea. Emerson preaches the idea of the bond men can have with nature in his essay “Nature.” I agreed wholeheartedly with this message. Lastly, the idea of “true happiness coming only from service to others” struck me. As a firm believer in living a life for God and others, I concurred with this idea. In order for us to have true happiness with ourselves, we must live a life for others. The keys of transcendentalism have caused me to engage in some introspection and challenge my everyday actions. In final, transcendental ideas have prompted positive changes in my

In conclusion, transcendentalism was a major ideology of the nineteenth century that focused on the beauty of nature and the power of the individual. Many aspiring authors arose from this period such as Emerson and Thoreau who challenged the norm of looking at the world. They encouraged people to seek and find happiness in nature by living a more meaningful life. Also in their writings they inspired people to be different and not to conform to society that strips one of their uniqueness. Through their ideas a transcendentalist school would provide many fruitful aspects to humans. It would make life more colorful as well as learning more about well being/happiness. Schools would focus more on the individual through their rules and grading policies

Transcendentalism was a cultural movement during the early 1800’s that swept across America through the works of authors such as Emerson and Thoreau. The movement placed value upon the spirituality of nature, individuality and breaking away from the moral shortcomings of society and government as seen in Emerson’s essays “Nature” and “Self Reliance” and in Thoreau's Essay “Civil Disobedience”. In today’s world, to be a transcendentalist one does not need to adhere to every tenet postulated by the leaders of the movement, but one does have to listen to his/her own moral code and attempt to live simply and frugally. In this sense, Christopher McCandless is a modern day transcendentalist evident through his actions and philosophy captured in the

Transcendentalism is a very elaborate word which is used to describe a very simplistic idea, this idea sparked a religious, philosophical, and literary movement. All people, whether it be men or women, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them which in essence ‘transcends’ or goes beyond what they can sense or feel. This immense knowledge arises by way of intuition and not of logic or the senses. A transcendentalist is a person who understands and accepts these ideas and concepts as a way of understanding life, and realizes that action is better than contemplation. Transcendentalism was born in New England in the 1830’s and discovered by the extraordinary philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Transcendentalism is all in the mind of others. Transcendentalism is what keeps people unique. Being a transcendentalist is when one will not conform. In the time when the poems “A Psalm of Life”, and “The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls’ people were expected to conform to a certain way of life and be like robots to what societies standards say is the correct way of living.

Transcendentalist has a handful of principals from self-reliance to the thought of technology is harmful.The main tenet throughout the paper will focus on the importance of nature. Transcendentalist views nature as a gateway to the spiritual world, a way to the Omnipower. Henry David Thoreau immersed himself into nature fully “The morning wind forever blows, the poem of creation is uninterrupted; but few are the ears that hear it”(Thoreau II). Thoreau reveals how he has taken the time to observe nature to its fullest extent. He saw nature as a neighbor who was to be respected just as a man would treat another. Ralph Waldo Emerson a great transcendentalist, a mentor to Thoreau. Emerson’s point of view of nature showed how men and nature can become one to uplift themselves from the worldly shackles. Thoreau and Emerson both had a concept that nature was essentials to mankind, one sought out to respect it and the other viewed as a form of release.Nature is important to transcendentalism because it leads to spiritual connection and harmonization.

There have been numerous religious rebellions throughout history, but none quite like that of Transcendentalism. This movement embodies the idea that spiritual growth can be achieved through personal journey instead of conflicting with organized religion. By the time of the movement’s onset, newly gained religious freedom in the United States allowed for new ideas and beliefs to prosper freely. At the heart of this movement was Transcendentalism philosophy famous ambassadors, Ralph Waldo Emerson and apprentice Henry David Thoreau. These men believed nature is what forces us not to depend on other ideas but to develop our own.

Transcendentalism was an American literature movement urging people to look past everyday material life, and reach into their souls to find inner peace with themselves. Transcendentalism originally came from Kantian idealism. This idealism was credited by Immanuel Kant.

The poem “Song of Myself” contains all the elements that defined “Transcendentalism”. The Transcendental movement is based on the principle that human knowledge could go beyond worlds. “Transcendentalism” originated as a sub-genre of “Romanticism”.