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Transcendentalism!

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

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Transcendentalism Major Elements The Individual The Individual The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individuals self The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individuals self Know Thyself!!!!!!!!!! Know Thyself!!!!!!!!!! An individuals virtue and happiness depends upon Self Realization. An individuals virtue and happiness depends upon Self Realization. Power is to be obtained by defying fate/predestination Power is to be obtained by defying fate/predestination It is foolish to worry about consistency It is foolish to worry about consistency

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Transcendentalism Major Elements The Individual..Self Reliance The Individual..Self Reliance For completion of Self..must have full understanding of emotional, sexual and psychological to achieve freedom/liberation. 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 Mandala: self is most accurately itself when all four parts in equal balance Ego Ego-emerging self Anima AnimasAnima=female Animus=male Anima AnimasAnima=female Animus=male ShadowShadow=darker side of self ShadowShadow=darker side of self

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Transcendentalism Major 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 NegativeLight (goodness) is more powerful than dark

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Transcendentalism Major 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 intuitionnature Death is a part of the cycle of life

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Transcendentalism Oversoul Oversoul Source of all good Source of all good Atma: each individual soul is made of the same stufffrom the same stuff..univeral, world soul. Atma: each individual soul is made of the same stufffrom the same stuff..univeral, world soul. She did not go someplacenot away. She went outeverywhere. She did not go someplacenot away. She went outeverywhere. Interconnection of all humanity Interconnection of all humanity

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Oversoul Jungian Collective Unconscious Jungian Collective Unconscious Experiences that all humans share regardless of time, culture, religion (archetypes). Experiences that all humans share regardless of time, culture, religion (archetypes). Goes beyond human experience... Transcend!!!!!!!!!! Goes beyond human experience... Transcend!!!!!!!!!! Freud (just to compare) Freud (just to compare)

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Transcendentalism Influences: 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. 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 mindrather than the passivity of John Locke Immanual Kant: belief in the native spontaneity of the mindrather than the passivity of John Locke Puritanism: ethical seriousness and (Edwards) suggestion that one can receive divine light immediately and directly. Puritanism: ethical seriousness and (Edwards) suggestion that one can receive divine light immediately and directly. Eastern Philosophy (Hinduism): Eastern Philosophy (Hinduism): Impersonal, universal god who is omniscient, but not judgmental Impersonal, universal god who is omniscient, but not judgmental no good or bad.just is ( no Original Sin) no good or bad.just is ( no Original Sin) Consciousness (not physicality) is focus Consciousness (not physicality) is focus Use intuition Use intuition Cannot have spiritual experience through another..must obtain individually throught the self Cannot have spiritual experience through another..must obtain individually throught the self

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Transcendentalism Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson Expressed the advantages of a young land with its freedom, innocence, and access to laws directly through nature, not books. 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 Appealed to both intellectuals and the general public Emphasized the connections between humans, nature and higher order Emphasized the connections between humans, nature and higher order Emersons work is plain on surface, yet has depth and substance Emersons work is plain on surface, yet has depth and substance Set up as collection of thoughts and memories, not organized essays Set up as collection of thoughts and memories, not organized essays I am a poet I am a poet Born into cultured, but poor family who were religiously based. Born into cultured, but poor family who were religiously based. Studied to be minister, but felt disbelief at central doctrines Studied to be minister, but felt disbelief at central doctrines Traveled to Europeenlightened Traveled to Europeenlightened Formed the Transcendental Club Formed the Transcendental Club After death of his son, Waldo, Emerson shrank from society After death of his son, Waldo, Emerson shrank from society

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Emerson Transcendental beliefs Transcendental beliefs Denied the importance of the past on present and future situations Denied the importance of the past on present and future situations Individual men and women were part of the idea of man 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 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 Rejection of institutional religion in favor of a personal relation with God God always close and reveals Self everywhere and at all times God always close and reveals Self everywhere and at all times Within each individual lies a divinity that allows human intuition to behold Gods spirit in nature Within each individual lies a divinity that allows human intuition to behold Gods spirit in nature Correspondence between natural law and moral law by use of intuition allows humans to see Gods laws revealed ( in nature). Correspondence between natural law and moral law by use of intuition allows humans to see Gods laws revealed ( in nature).

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Transcendentalism Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau Self un-made man Born in Concord, Mass. In 1817 to a successful family Born in Concord, Mass. In 1817 to a successful family Grew up hiking through the woods of Concord Grew up hiking through the woods of Concord Graduated from Harvard as an above average student with a rebellious streak. 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. 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 Helped fugitive slaves make their way to Canada Protested the Mexican Warrefused to pay his taxes (which would support it) Protested the Mexican Warrefused to pay his taxes (which would support it) spent night in jail spent night in jail Moved back to family house to live the rest of his life. Moved back to family house to live the rest of his life. Supported himself by doing odd jobsmasonry, carpentry, etc Supported himself by doing odd jobsmasonry, carpentry, etc Died of Tuberculosis Died of Tuberculosis Henry, have you made peace with God? Why, Aunt, I didnt know we had quarreled. Henry, have you made peace with God? Why, Aunt, I didnt know we had quarreled.

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Thoreau Transcendental Beliefs Transcendental Beliefs Believed that the epic journey of his day was inwardto live close to nature and live simply to rediscover integrity and greatness. Believed that the epic journey of his day was inwardto 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 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 Possessed by a vision of perfect freedom in which one is their own master Life, as much of his writing, is Paradoxical. Life, as much of his writing, is Paradoxical. One needed conscience and the need for action to maintain it One needed conscience and the need for action to maintain it Disliked hyprocisy Disliked hyprocisy