Transcript Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism
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What does
“transcendentalism” mean?
• Belief in a higher kind of knowledge than
can be achieved by human reason
• A loose collection of eclectic ideas about
literature, philosophy, religion, social
reform, and the general state of American
culture.
• Transcendentalism had different meanings
for each person involved in the movement.
“From 1840-1855, literature in America
experienced a rebirth called the New England
Renaissance. Through their poetry, short stories,
novels, and other works, writers during this
period established a clear American voice. No
longer did they see their work as less influential
than that of European authors.
Transcendentalism was a part of this “flowering”
of American literature. Ralph Waldo Emerson and
Henry David Thoreau were important voices in
this philosophical movement that sought to have
individuals “transcend” to a higher spiritual level.
To achieve this goal, the individual had to seek
spiritual, not material, greatness and the
essential truths of life through intuition. Emerson
was the philosopher and teacher. Thoreau was
the student and the practitioner.”
-Web of American Transcendentalism.
Basic Premise #1
OVERSOUL
• Man, universe and
nature are
intertwined.
• All three share the
same soul.
• A universal spirit to
which all things return
after death
• Proposed by
Emerson
Basic Premise #2
OPTIMISTIC
• All is good
• Evil is an illusion
Basic Premise #3
INDIVIDUALISM
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Non-conformity
Free thought
Self-reliance
Be true to one’s own inner
perception or intuition
• Unlimited potential of each
individual (confidence)
Basic Premise #4
NATURE IS TRUTH.
• It can be a guide to
higher understanding.
• Symbolizes God or
the inner life of human
beings
Who were the Transcendentalists?
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
Henry David Thoreau
Amos Bronson Alcott
Margaret Fuller
Ellery Channing
Where did it come from?
• Ralph Waldo Emerson gave German
philosopher Immanuel Kant credit for
popularizing the term “transcendentalism.”
(1700s)
• It began as a reform movement in the Unitarian
church (encourages people to find their own
spirituality)
• It is not a religion—more accurately, it is a
philosophy or form of spirituality.
• It centered around Boston and Concord, MA. in
the mid-1800’s.
• Emerson first expressed his philosophy of
transcendentalism in his essay Nature.
Who was Immanuel Kant?
• Russian philosopher influential in
Germany
• Believed everything is acquired through
experience but reason plays a major role
Development in the US
• Emerson and the Transcendentalists led
the search for truth
– In nature
– Through self-reliance
• Transcendentalism began with a few and
grew
• This philosophy lasted for several years in
New England
• Ended as the Civil War began
Roots of Transcendentalism
• Puritanism
– Belief in God as a powerful force
– Belief that each individual can experience God firsthand
• Romanticism
– Placed central importance on emotions and the
individual
– Emphasized intuition and inner perception of truth
that differs from reason
– Emphasized nature’s beauty, strangeness, and
mystery
– Emphasized individual expression and artistic
freedom
Ralph Waldo Emerson
• 1803-1882
• Unitarian ministerresigned after 3 years
• Poet and essayist
• Founded the
Transcendental Club
• Popular lecturer
• Banned from Harvard for
40 years following his
Divinity School address
• Supporter of abolitionism
• Wrote Nature and
Self-Reliance
Henry David Thoreau
• 1817-1862
• Schoolteacher, essayist,
poet
• Most famous for Walden
and Civil Disobedience
• Influenced environmental
movement
• Supporter of abolitionism
Amos Bronson Alcott
• 1799-1888
• Teacher and writer
• Founder of Temple
School and Fruitlands
• Introduced art, music,
P.E., nature study, and
field trips; banished
corporal punishment
• Father of novelist
Louisa May Alcott
Margaret Fuller
• 1810-1850
• Journalist, critic,
women’s rights activist
• First editor of The Dial, a
transcendental journal
• First female journalist
to work on a major
newspaper—The New
York Tribune
• Taught at Alcott’s Temple
School
Ellery Channing
• 1818-1901
• Poet and especially
close friend of
Thoreau
• Published the first
biography of Thoreau
in 1873—Thoreau,
The Poet-Naturalist
Review
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Non-Conformity
Self-Reliance
Free Thought
Confidence
Importance of Nature
Read Emerson Biography p.
388
Nature- p. 390
Answer Questions
Read Self Reliance p. 393
Answer Questions
Resources
• American Transcendental Web:
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html
• American Transcendentalism:
http://www.wsu.edu/~campbelld/amlit/amtrans.htm
• PAL: Chapter Four
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html
Complete the Simplify, Simplify,
Simplify handout
Pathway around
WALDEN
POND in
Concord, MA
Thoreau’s cabin at Walden
Pond
Who was Henry
David Thoreau?
• Read p. 404
• Read Walden p. 407
• Michael Scott: Survivor Man
• What did Michael Scott hope to achieve by
going out to the wilderness?
• How does this compare to Thoreau’s
choice to live on Walden Pond and his
motivation?
Walden
• “If you have built castles in the air, your
work need not be lost; that is where they
should be. Now put the foundations under
them…” (Thoreau 412).
• “Why should we be in such desperate
haste to succeed, and in such desperate
enterprises?
What is civil disobedience?
• The deliberate and public refusal to obey
laws that violate one’s personal principles
• Thoreau believed the government was an
impediment to the productivity and
achievements of the American people
– Do you agree?
– How can you have your voices heard in
government?
Read Thoreau’s
excerpt from Civil
Disobedience
p. 416
• Ron Swanson on WHY GOVERNMENT
MATTERS
• How does the following clip compare to
Thoreau’s claims about government?
After Reading
• What is Thoreau’s claim, warrant and
impact?
• What motto does Thoreau accept?
• How would he like to see that motto
implemented?
• How does Thoreau define the best
possible kind of government?
Reflect on PROTEST lesson
• Where have we seen examples of protest
in the past quarter?
• Do you believe Thoreau’s “protest” is valid
and impactful?