Transcendentalism!

Transcendentalism Historical Perspective

Sought to create literary independence….and spiritual independence Westward Expansion prevalent Social reforms prioritized (abolition of slavery, education, women’s rights) Movement during the American Renaissance which included educated people. Population movement from rural to urban areas Time of Social Reforms ( peaceful)

TranscendentalismMajor Elements

The Individual The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the

individual’s self

Know Thyself!!!!!!!!!!

An individual’s virtue and happiness depends upon Self Realization. Power is to be obtained by defying fate/predestination

It is foolish to worry about consistency…

TranscendentalismMajor Elements

The Individual…..Self Reliance For completion of Self..must have full understanding of emotional, sexual

and psychological to achieve freedom/liberation. Mandala: self is most accurately itself when all four parts in equal balance

Ego Ego-emerging self

Anima Animas Anima=female Animus=male

Shadow Shadow=darker side of self

TranscendentalismMajor Concepts

Nature Nature is symbolic…..pantheistic Oversoul Chathonic: “of the earth” born of dust, return to dust God can be found in nature and human nature

Transcendentalism is a form of Idealism Evil is Negative…Light (goodness) is more powerful than

dark

TranscendentalismMajor Elements

Spiritual The intuitive faculty(not rationality or sensory) becomes the means of

conscious union of the individual psyche ( Oversoul) An individual is the spiritual center of the universe

Individual may transcend lower animalistic impulses of life..moving from the instinctual or rational to the spiritual realm

The human soul is part of the oversoul/universal spirit Oversoul/Life Force/God can be found everywhere God can be found in nature and human nature Focus on this life..not aferlife Know God through intuition…nature Death is a part of the cycle of life

TranscendentalismOversoul

Source of all good Atma: each individual soul is made of the same stuff…from the same

stuff..univeral, world soul.

“She did not go someplace…not away. She went out…everywhere.” Interconnection of all humanity

Oversoul Jungian Collective Unconscious

Experiences that all humans share regardless of time, culture, religion (archetypes).

Goes beyond human experience... Transcend!!!!!!!!!!

Freud (just to compare)

Transcendentalism Influences:

Plato: idealism according to which reality subsists beyond the appearances of the world..that the world is an expression of spirit or mind..and IS GOOD.

Immanual Kant: belief in the “native spontaneity of the mind”…rather than the passivity of John Locke

Puritanism: ethical seriousness and (Edwards) suggestion that one can receive divine light immediately and directly.

Eastern Philosophy (Hinduism): Impersonal, universal god who is omniscient, but not judgmental no good or bad….just is ( no Original Sin) Consciousness (not physicality) is focus Use intuition Cannot have spiritual experience through another..must obtain individually throught

the self

Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson

Expressed the advantages of a young land with its freedom, “innocence”, and access to laws directly through nature, not books.

Appealed to both intellectuals and the general public Emphasized the connections between humans, nature and higher order Emerson’s work is “plain” on surface, yet has depth and substance Set up as collection of thoughts and memories, not organized essays “I am a poet” Born into cultured, but poor family who were religiously based. Studied to be minister, but felt disbelief at central doctrines Traveled to Europe…enlightened Formed the Transcendental Club After death of his son, Waldo, Emerson shrank from society

Emerson

Transcendental beliefs Denied the importance of the past on present and future situations Individual men and women were part of the “idea of man” Since all things are connected to a larger whole, even the commonest

matters could open a door to the eternal Rejection of institutional religion in favor of a personal relation with

God God always close and reveals Self everywhere and at all times Within each individual lies a divinity that allows human intuition to

behold God’s spirit in nature Correspondence between natural law and moral law by use of intuition

allows humans to see God’s laws revealed ( in nature).

Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau

Self “un-made” man Born in Concord, Mass. In 1817 to a successful family Grew up hiking through the woods of Concord Graduated from Harvard as an above average student with a rebellious streak. Stayed at Walden Pond for nearly two years to reflect upon his life and live it simply and

close to nature. Helped fugitive slaves make their way to Canada Protested the Mexican War…refused to pay his taxes (which would support it)

spent night in jail Moved back to family house to live the rest of his life.

Supported himself by doing odd jobs…masonry, carpentry, etc… Died of Tuberculosis

“Henry, have you made peace with God?” “Why, Aunt, I didn’t know we had quarreled.”

Thoreau Transcendental Beliefs

Believed that the epic journey of his day was inward…to live close to nature and live simply to rediscover integrity and greatness.

Looked to nature for a model of life and writing because it contained spiritual truth and reality

Possessed by a vision of perfect freedom in which one is their own master Life, as much of his writing, is Paradoxical.

One needed conscience and the need for action to maintain it Disliked hyprocisy