Transcendentalism Notes

1. Transcendentalism Notes Emerson and Thoreau

2. The term transcendental comes from the eighteenth-century German philosopher Immanuel Kant. • In determining the existence of God, the universe, and the self, one must transcend, or go beyond, everyday human experience, and instead connect through the natural world.

3. Characteristics • God is in every aspect of nature, including every human being • Referred to as the Divine Soul or Oversoul • Every living thing on earth is connected • One will connect with one’s true self in nature. • Optimistic view—we can find God directly through nature. • God is good. • Death is simply a part of the life cycle. • Idealism—they believed in the perfectibility of man.

4. Intuition is an important tool • Intuition is God’s voice • Self-reliance and individuality outweigh external authority and blind conformity to custom and tradition. • Often, we are unaware as to the true reasons why we conform • Always question authority and tradition • Spontaneous feelings and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality.

5. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were at the forefront of this movement.