Transcendentalism
Defined as a “[18th and] 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought”
The word Transcendentalism was derived from the philosopher Kant, who called "all knowledge transcendental which is concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects."
The names Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David, and their books “Nature,” “Self-Reliance,” and “The Over-Soul” might ring a bell. These famous authors, are well known for their, philosophical ideas that they included in their novels. These ideas were the ideas of Transcendentalists, that, in America, first formed a club in New England, in 1836 (but Transcendentalism was more than a club). “Rather it was a faith shared by such diverse minds and such diverse places.” They received inspiration from the ideas of German transcendentalism, Platonism and Neoplatonism, the Indian and Chinese scriptures, and the writings of certain individuals like Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme.
Ideas
The American Transcendentalist ideas, although different depending on the person (even though out the first members of the club), were all based on the belief: that the “essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of man, and the supremacy of insight over logic and experience for the revelation of the deepest truths.” This is what Emerson called the Over Soul, and this belief in the unity of mankind, along with the goodness of man shows up in art and literature in many different forms, all though the era.
Defined as a “[18th and] 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought”
The word Transcendentalism was derived from the philosopher Kant, who called "all knowledge transcendental which is concerned not with objects but with our mode of knowing objects."
The names Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David, and their books “Nature,” “Self-Reliance,” and “The Over-Soul” might ring a bell. These famous authors, are well known for their, philosophical ideas that they included in their novels. These ideas were the ideas of Transcendentalists, that, in America, first formed a club in New England, in 1836 (but Transcendentalism was more than a club). “Rather it was a faith shared by such diverse minds and such diverse places.” They received inspiration from the ideas of German transcendentalism, Platonism and Neoplatonism, the Indian and Chinese scriptures, and the writings of certain individuals like Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme.
Ideas
The American Transcendentalist ideas, although different depending on the person (even though out the first members of the club), were all based on the belief: that the “essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of man, and the supremacy of insight over logic and experience for the revelation of the deepest truths.” This is what Emerson called the Over Soul, and this belief in the unity of mankind, along with the goodness of man shows up in art and literature in many different forms, all though the era.
Social (and political) Reform
Transcendentalism lead to social reform, and small groups ranging from eight to hundreds of people formed communities, linked to the ideas of transcendentalism. These communities, such as Brook Farm, and Alcott's Fruitlands, were social experiments, in which they attempted to live and work cooperatively. To touch on political reform, most Transcendentalists were or at least supported abolitionists, but out side of slavery (which was a cause for immediate action), the Transcendentalists generally asserted that society reforms must start with individual conscience.
Effects
Transcendentalism had a large effect, working towards a new American culture, and morphing the still changing American culture. They were the heart and soul of the American Renaissance, but even further, as Martin Luther King, Jr, drew ideas and inspiration from the Transcendentalists, in this case Henry David Thoreau (he strongly wrote about the end of slavery, and supported the abolitionist cause). Saying, “I became convinced that noncooperation with evil is as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good. No other person has been more eloquent and passionate in getting this idea across than Henry David Thoreau."
The effects that the Transcendentalists had on America’s culture than, are still apparent in someways now (aside from Martin Luther King, Jr), as environmentalists' values hold roots in Transcendentalism, and many draw inspiration from Emerson's book “Nature,” and Thoreau's book “Walden.”
Works Cited
"American Transcendentalism Web." Virginia Commonwealth University. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. <http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/index.html>.
"IHAS: Artist/Movement/Ideas." PBS: Public Broadcasting Service. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas/icon/transcend.html>.
"Transcendentalism, American Literary and Philosophical Movement — Infoplease.com." Infoplease: Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas, Biographies, Dictionary, Thesaurus. Free Online Reference, Research & Homework Help. — Infoplease.com. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A0849256.html>.
"Transcendentalism (American Movement) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. Web. 01 Nov. 2011. <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/602448/Transcendentalism>.
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