Transcendentalism The Philosophical Movement - 1786 Words

Transcendentalism was the philosophical movement that emphasized the break from increasing formalized religion in the 19th century. The leading figure of Transcendentalism was the writer and speaker Ralph Waldo Emerson. However, there were many other figures associated with Transcendentalism: Henry David Thoreau, author of Walden; Amos Bronson Alcott, father of Louisa May Alcott; and Margaret Fuller, an early feminist writer and editor. The 19th century Transcendentalists, in their purest sense, were supposed to believe that all people were joined together in their equality with nature. And, like most philosophy in 19th century America, it did not apply to women as much as it did to men; transcendentalists acknowledged women as sharing that same soul, but women still had to fight for their equality in a patriarchal society. Emerson gives the open definition of Transcendentalism as, â€Å"a whole connection of spiritual doctrine† (â€Å"Defining Transcendentalism†). Emer son, however, fails to wholly connect all; because of Emerson’s exclusion of women, â€Å"he did not fully endorse the aspirations of the women in his milieu† (Cole 413). Walt Whitman, on the other hand, was an exceptional transcendentalist in that his philosophy did not only apply to land-owning white men, but to women. Whitman argues for women’s equality by analyzing them under the scope of transcendentalism; he deconstructs gender boundaries, redefines women as sexual beings, and defends their respectability as such. InShow MoreRelatedTranscendentalism : A Philosophical Movement1815 Words   |  8 PagesTranscendentalism in Emerson’s Poetry Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement in America that developed during the early 19th century. Ralph Waldo Emerson is one of the most famous transcendental writers. Transcendental ideas are different with every writer and poet, but some key points are always present in transcendental literature: â€Å"The indwelling of the divine in the human soul; the superiority of the individual over society...intuition, imagination, and vision as the ways of understandingRead MoreTranscendentalism : A Philosophical And Literary Movement1725 Words   |  7 PagesTranscendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that started in the mid 19th Century in the U.S.A as a reaction against the dogma and industrialization of the time, placing individualism and self-reliance above the views of social institutions and the government. It was also, in part, an attempt at creating a uniquely American literature style completely different to the established English/European styles used in t he past. Ralph Waldo Emerson was a highly influential writer that ledRead MoreTranscendentalism : An Idealistic Philosophical And Social Movement1120 Words   |  5 PagesTranscendentalism, which according to the dictionary means: â€Å"an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England around 1836 in reation to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and its members held progressive views on feminism and communal living†. Transcendentalism is an American Literary, and philosophical movement of the early nineteenth century. This is thought is centeredRead MoreTranscendentalism in America: The Philosophical and Literary Movement1062 Words   |  5 Pagesspirituality. In the end, authors in America created Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that searches for individual truth through spiritual reflection, complete s olitude, and a deep connection with nature. Because this was established by authors, many of them wrote different pieces reflecting and using the beliefs of Transcendentalism. Ralph Waldo Emerson was considered to be the father of Transcendentalism. He wrote many influential pieces that follow andRead MoreTranscendentalism, A Powerful Intellectual And Philosophical Movement1781 Words   |  8 PagesTranscendentalism, a powerful intellectual and philosophical movement founded by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the early nineteenth century, was guided by the principle that individuals are inherently good and function at their best when they are independent and self-reliant. Striving to produce a philosophy that would serve a new nation, transcendentalists believed that religious institutions and political parties would eventually corrupt the natural pure goodness of man. Transcendentalist ideology furtherRead MoreTranscendentalism : An American Artistic And Philosophical Movement1823 Words   |  8 Pages Transcendentalism was an American artistic and philosophical movement similar to the Romantic movement of Europe. The movement praised the efforts of mankind as individuals instead of depicting humanity as a crowd of like-minded people. Transcendentalists admired the former great thinkers of the world from Aristotle and Jesus to Copernicus and Newton for their confidence and persistence in the face of opposition. The movement encouraged many in the United States to express their creativity andRead MoreRalph Waldo Emersons Connection To Transcendentalism1223 Words   |  5 Pagesto write about a Massachusetts-born American poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson who was part of the Transcendentalist movement which geared philosophical thinking that involved viewing women as equal. Philip F. Gura, Transcendentalism and Social Reform, History Now, assessed May 14, 2017, https://www.gilderlehrman.org/history-by-era/first-age-reform/essays/transcendentalism-and-social- reform. Emerson s support for women s suffrage prompted him to write A Reasonable Reform to promote anti-suffrageRead MoreThe Goals And Ideas Of The Transcendentalist Philosophers916 Words   |  4 Pagesfinest of my abilities. How about we start with a little background and history? Sounds good? Great! First, transcendentalism is a movement that started in the early to mid-nineteenth century. According to definitions online, a transcendentalist Philosopher is a person that accepts ideas as a way of understanding life relationships rather than religious beliefs. Moreover, Transcendentalism describes a very modest idea. Men, women, children, and people in general are knowledgeable about themselvesRead MoreDifference Between Romanticism And Transendinlalism In American And British Writers1584 Words   |  7 Pagesof Romanticism. The difference of Transendinlalism was that it was a literary and philosophical movement, associated with Ralph Waldo Emerson and Margaret Fuller, asserting the existence of an ideal spiritual reality that transcends the empirical and scientific and is knowable through intuition. However, the Romantics thought differently because they that, that romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement originating in Europe in the late 18th century and characterized by a heightened interestRead MoreEssay on Transcendentalism1619 Words   |  7 Pages Transcendentalism nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Many people have theories and philosophies about life in general. There have been hundreds of thousands of books published by many different people on the ideas of people in the past and the present. Transcendentalism falls in amongst all of these ideas. There have been articles, essays, poems, and even books written about this subject. Transcendentalism has effected many people since the philosophy was first introduced. The idea was complex and