Transcendentalism

Ralph Waldo Emerson ca1857

Henry David Thoreau 2

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Sarah Margaret Fuller engraving

Transcendentalism is a philosophical and social movement that developed in the late 1820s and 1830s in the eastern United States. It arose as a reaction against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time. The doctrine of the movement centers on the belief that an ideal spiritual state transcends, or goes beyond, the physical and empirical and is only realized through the individual's intuition, rather than through the doctrines of established religions.

Origins and Influences

Transcendentalism has its roots in the Transcendental Club, founded in 1836 in Massachusetts by Ralph Waldo Emerson, a former Unitarian minister, and Henry David Thoreau, among others. The movement was influenced by a variety of sources including Platonism, Neoplatonism, Romanticism, and the religions of Asia. The works of German philosophers such as Immanuel Kant and Johann Gottlieb Fichte were also significant, introducing the idea that the individual could transcend the senses and attain a higher understanding through intuition.

Core Beliefs

The core belief of Transcendentalism is in the inherent goodness of both people and nature. Transcendentalists believe that society and its institutions—particularly organized religion and political parties—corrupt the purity of the individual. They have faith that people are at their best when truly "self-reliant" and independent. It is only from such real individuals that true community could be formed.

Another central concept is the belief in an Oversoul, a universal spirit to which all beings return after death, and which somehow connects and unifies all living things. This concept was inspired by Hindu texts and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life.

Key Figures and Works

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are the most notable figures in Transcendentalism. Emerson's essay "Nature" (1836) and his speech "The American Scholar" (1837) are considered foundational texts in the movement. Thoreau's "Walden" (1854), which recounts his experiment in simple living, and "Civil Disobedience" (1849), an argument for individual resistance to civil government in moral opposition to an unjust state, are also key works.

Other important figures include Margaret Fuller, an advocate for women's rights and one of the first female journalists to work on a major newspaper, and Amos Bronson Alcott, an educator and reformer.

Impact and Legacy

Transcendentalism influenced the growing movement of Mental Sciences and the development of American literature, with authors such as Walt Whitman and Emily Dickinson drawing on its themes. Its emphasis on individualism and self-reliance has left a lasting impact on American culture.

The movement also had a significant impact on social reform movements of the time, including abolitionism and women's rights, by advocating for the value and rights of the individual.

Criticism

Transcendentalism has been criticized for its perceived lack of structure and for the impracticality of its ideals in real-world situations. Critics argue that its emphasis on individualism can lead to isolation rather than community.

See Also

• American Philosophy
• Romanticism
• Idealism