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Principles of Transcendentalism

Principles of Transcendentalism. Transcendentalism. Philosophical and literary movement during the middle of the 19 th century (1836 – 1860) Most notable figures are Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism.

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Principles of Transcendentalism

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  1. Principles of Transcendentalism

  2. 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

  3. 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.

  4. Transcendentalism, cont. • Importance of nature • Self-reliance – depend on yourself, non-conformity • Importance of the individual

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

  6. 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.

  7. Transcendentalism Meat of the Philosophy • Logic and reason give way to intuition • Spiritual facts lie in nature • Self-examination is key – the individual is very important

  8. Transcendentalism Meat of the Philosophy • All things (living and “not” living) are connected and are part of a divine plan - Oversoul

  9. Transcendentalism Keys to remember • The soul of each individual is identical with the soul of the world and contains what the world contains

  10. Transcendentalism Keys to remember • Approaching the Creator through the creation … glorification of nature, the simple life and the common man

  11. The individual communes with nature and through intuition reaches the oversoul.

  12. Emerson says … • Envy is ignorance

  13. Emerson says … • Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string.

  14. Emerson says … • Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.

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

  16. Emerson says … • Insist on yourself; never imitate.

  17. Emerson says … • What is the hardest task in the world? To think.

  18. Emerson says … • Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee.

  19. Emerson says … • Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

  20. Emerson says … • A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.

  21. Emerson says … • The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.

  22. Thoreau’s Transcendentalist Principles

  23. God as Nature • Look inside yourself for divine guidance in learning to understand the nature of God.

  24. Contemplation of Divine Nature and Nature • Live life close to nature for there a person can most successfully contemplate his reason for being

  25. 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.

  26. Physical and Mental Work • A person should be both physically and intellectually active throughout life.

  27. 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.

  28. Know Thyself • These principles can be found through contemplating self and through working close to nature.

  29. 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.

  30. Know Thyself • Follow the dictates of your own conscience.

  31. Time and Personal Growth • A person should work for money only such time as is necessary to fulfill his basic needs.

  32. Time and Personal Growth • Give time priority to personal growth rather than working for money.

  33. 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.

  34. Least Government Best • Of course, he also has to be willing to take the consequences that the government might invoke.

  35. Determine Truth for Yourself • A person should accept only those traditions which appear to be true and should reject the rest.

  36. Determine Truth for Yourself • This principle therefore requires “living today for today” since yesterday is gone and tomorrow may never come.

  37. Be Yourself • This ninth principle, in a sense, is a summation of all the rest.

  38. 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.

  39. Be Yourself • Consequently, the last principle is to be yourself by exercising the self-discipline necessary to live by the first eight principles.

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