AmericanAmericanTranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Mind over matterMind over matter

Commonalities Commonalities

►Wrote non-fictionWrote non-fiction►Essay, diary, and sermonEssay, diary, and sermon►Not art, not argument, but much of it was intended to Not art, not argument, but much of it was intended to

persuadepersuade

Notes Notes

► Transcendentalism was named by those who didn’t like itTranscendentalism was named by those who didn’t like it► Most prominent Transcendentalists Most prominent Transcendentalists

Margaret FullerMargaret Fuller Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau

► Secondary Transcendentalists Secondary Transcendentalists Herman MelvilleHerman Melville Walt WhitmanWalt Whitman Emily Dickinson Emily Dickinson

What is Transcendentalism? What is Transcendentalism?

►Belief that the human senses don’t tell us everything Belief that the human senses don’t tell us everything we need to knowwe need to know

► ““Mind over matter” kind of peopleMind over matter” kind of people►Transcendentalists split from the American Unitarian Transcendentalists split from the American Unitarian

religion religion ►Believed there was something beyond normal mental Believed there was something beyond normal mental

faculty; they called it “reason”faculty; they called it “reason”► ““Reason” – higher mental power that enabled human Reason” – higher mental power that enabled human

beingsbeings

Reason Reason

►We might call it “conscious”We might call it “conscious”►Also, sometimes called:Also, sometimes called:

SpiritSpirit MindMind SoulSoul

Immanence Immanence

►Transcendentalists believed in “immanence”Transcendentalists believed in “immanence”►The idea that God is present in every human beingThe idea that God is present in every human being

Transcendentalist Characteristics Transcendentalist Characteristics

►Most grew up around BostonMost grew up around Boston►From old New England families (before 1700)From old New England families (before 1700)►Most Unitarian – most trained for Unitarian ministry Most Unitarian – most trained for Unitarian ministry ►Most men attended HarvardMost men attended Harvard►Most were writers (poems, essays, speeches, etc.)Most were writers (poems, essays, speeches, etc.)►All supporters of the moral reformAll supporters of the moral reform

Temperance (no alcohol)Temperance (no alcohol) Abolition (no slavery)Abolition (no slavery)

Summary & Significance Summary & Significance

►Not primarily a writing movement but more of a Not primarily a writing movement but more of a religious movement religious movement

►Americans began to culturally separate themselves Americans began to culturally separate themselves from England from England