Principles of Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism Philosophical and literary

movement during the middle of the 19th century (1836 – 1860)

Most notable figures are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau

Transcendentalism Religious and philosophical

doctrines that emphasize the importance of individual inspiration; mind-search – belief in things without proof; divinity can be found through nature.

Transcendentalism, cont.

1. Importance of nature2. Self-reliance – depend on

yourself, non-conformity3. Importance of the

individual

Transcendentalism, cont.

4. Belief in intuition – look for truth in yourself and in nature; transcend the senses.

Transcendentalism, cont.

5. Oversoul – direct relationship with God; a personal matter to be established by individual himself rather than through church/priest intervention. Spiritual life is very important.

TranscendentalismMeat of the Philosophy

Logic and reason give way to intuition

Spiritual facts lie in nature Self-examination is key – the

individual is very important

TranscendentalismMeat of the Philosophy

All things (living and “not” living) are connected and are part of a divine plan - Oversoul

TranscendentalismKeys to remember

The soul of each individual is identical with the soul of the world and contains what the world contains

TranscendentalismKeys to remember

Approaching the Creator through the creation … glorification of nature, the simple life and the common man

The individual communes with

nature and through intuition reaches

the oversoul.

Emerson says …

Envy is ignorance

Emerson says …

Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

Emerson says …

Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

Emerson says …

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.

Emerson says …

Insist on yourself; never imitate.

Emerson says …

What is the hardest task in the world? To think.

Emerson says …

Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

Emerson says …

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Emerson says …

A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.

Emerson says …

The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.

Thoreau’s Transcendentalist Principles

God as Nature Look inside

yourself for divine guidance in learning to understand the nature of God.

Contemplation of Divine Nature and Nature

Live life close to nature for there a person can most successfully contemplate his reason for being

Search for Meaning A person should

devote himself to the search for the meaning of oneself and other living things, not in the accumulation of material goods.

Physical and Mental Work A person

should be both physically and intellectually active throughout life.

Know Thyself Thoreau believed

the best way to “know oneself” was to become a person of principle and then to live life by these principles.

Know Thyself These principles

can be found through contemplating self and through working close to nature.

Know Thyself Having developed

this personal code, a person should abide by it, even if such action puts the person in conflict with the majority of society.

Know Thyself Follow the

dictates of your own conscience.

Time and Personal Growth A person

should work for money only such time as is necessary to fulfill his basic needs.

Time and Personal Growth Give time

priority to personal growth rather than working for money.

Least Government Best A person should

have the courage to practice some form of non-violent law-breaking if he believes the law to be in violation of his principles.

Least Government Best Of course, he also

has to be willing to take the consequences that the government might invoke.

Determine Truth for Yourself A person should

accept only those traditions which appear to be true and should reject the rest.

Determine Truth for Yourself This principle

therefore requires “living today for today” since yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

Be Yourself This ninth

principle, in a sense, is a summation of all the rest.

Be Yourself Thoreau believed that if a

person will exercise the self-discipline necessary for the study of himself in relation to nature and mankind as outlined by the first eight principles, he will have a rich, rewarding life.

Be Yourself Consequently,

the last principle is to be yourself by exercising the self-discipline necessary to live by the first eight principles.