Transcendentalism Transcendentalism Nature & SimplicityNature & SimplicityVoluntary Simplicity as a Voluntary Simplicity as a Cure for American ConsumerismCure for American Consumerism

Past ObjectivesPast Objectives

Understand the major tenets Understand the major tenets (principles/beliefs) of transcendentalism(principles/beliefs) of transcendentalism

Understand their focus on natureUnderstand their focus on nature

Today’s ObjectivesToday’s Objectives

Continue to answer our unit’s essential Continue to answer our unit’s essential question: What defines America and Americans?question: What defines America and Americans?

Compare transcendentalist ideas about nature Compare transcendentalist ideas about nature with ourswith ours

Compare transcendentalist ideal of simplicity Compare transcendentalist ideal of simplicity with contemporary Americawith contemporary America

Enhance our reading comprehension skills with Enhance our reading comprehension skills with our first transcendentalist textour first transcendentalist text

AnnouncementsAnnouncements

Make-up Work Needed:Make-up Work Needed:

TranscendentalismTranscendentalism

Major tenetsMajor tenets

NatureNature

Universal SoulUniversal Soul

Here & NowHere & Now

NonconformityNonconformity

Self-relianceSelf-reliance

SimplicitySimplicity

Nature Wrap-UpNature Wrap-Up

SimplicitySimplicity

Intro Discuss QuestionsIntro Discuss Questions

1.1.Items we long for: Items we long for: What are some What are some items/products that you are really dying to items/products that you are really dying to have? What type of car & home would you like have? What type of car & home would you like to have in the future?to have in the future?

2.2.Paring down:Paring down: If you had to go off to the If you had to go off to the woods for two years and could only bring 12 woods for two years and could only bring 12 items, which items would you select? Why?items, which items would you select? Why?

3.3.Conflict? Conflict? Is there a conflict between the Is there a conflict between the American Dream and simplicity? Which should American Dream and simplicity? Which should Americans seek to achieve? Why?Americans seek to achieve? Why?

Discussion GroupsDiscussion Groups

•Share with some friends your journal Share with some friends your journal responsesresponses

•Decide on a group list of top 12 itemsDecide on a group list of top 12 items

Introductory FactIntroductory Fact

Americans have been addicted to consuming Americans have been addicted to consuming more and more over the yearsmore and more over the years

What is Affluenza?What is Affluenza?

Af-flu-en-zaAf-flu-en-za = Affluence + Influenza = Affluence + Influenzan. 1. a painful, contagious, socially transmitted n. 1. a painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste condition of overload, debt, anxiety and waste resulting from the dogged pursuit of more. resulting from the dogged pursuit of more.

2. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling 2. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from efforts to keep up with the that results from efforts to keep up with the Joneses.Joneses.

3. An unsustainable addiction to economic 3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth. growth.

Quiz: Symptoms of Quiz: Symptoms of AffluenzaAffluenza

Let’s look at the Let’s look at the symptoms and effects symptoms and effects of affluenza in of affluenza in America!America!

Thanks to www.pbs.org for the Thanks to www.pbs.org for the Affluenza information!Affluenza information!

1. Which of the following is comparable to the 1. Which of the following is comparable to the size of a typical three-car garage?size of a typical three-car garage?

a. a basketball courta. a basketball court

b. a McDonald's restaurantb. a McDonald's restaurant

c. an "RV" (recreational vehicle)c. an "RV" (recreational vehicle)

d. the average home in the d. the average home in the 1950s.1950s.

Answer: dAnswer: d. Many of today's three-car . Many of today's three-car garages occupy 900 square feet, just about garages occupy 900 square feet, just about the average size of an entire home in the the average size of an entire home in the 1950s. Many people use the extra garage 1950s. Many people use the extra garage space to store things they own and seldom space to store things they own and seldom use. Often we hear that Americans have use. Often we hear that Americans have lost ground economically and have less lost ground economically and have less purchasing power. But Americans are purchasing power. But Americans are buying more luxurious items, partly by buying more luxurious items, partly by working more and going deeply into debt. working more and going deeply into debt. The homes they live in and the cars they The homes they live in and the cars they drive today are often bigger and more drive today are often bigger and more technologically advanced than those technologically advanced than those purchased by their parents.purchased by their parents.

2. The percentage of Americans 2. The percentage of Americans calling themselves "very happy" calling themselves "very happy" reached its highest point in what reached its highest point in what year?year?

a. 1957a. 1957

b. 1967b. 1967

c. 1977c. 1977

d. 1987d. 1987

Answer: aAnswer: a. The number of "very . The number of "very happy" people peaked in 1957, and happy" people peaked in 1957, and has remained fairly stable or declined has remained fairly stable or declined ever since. Even though we consume ever since. Even though we consume twice as much as we did in the twice as much as we did in the 1950s, people were just as happy 1950s, people were just as happy when they had less.when they had less.

3. How much of an average American's 3. How much of an average American's lifetime will be spent (on average) lifetime will be spent (on average) watching television commercials?watching television commercials?

a. 6 monthsa. 6 months

b. 3 monthsb. 3 months

c. 1 yearc. 1 year

d. 1.5 yearsd. 1.5 years

Answer: cAnswer: c. In contrast, Americans . In contrast, Americans on average spend only 40 minutes a on average spend only 40 minutes a week playing with their children, and week playing with their children, and members of working couples talk members of working couples talk with one another on average only 12 with one another on average only 12 minutes a day.minutes a day.

4. True or false? Americans carry $1 billion in 4. True or false? Americans carry $1 billion in personal debt, not including real estate and personal debt, not including real estate and mortgages. mortgages.

Answer: FalseAnswer: False. Americans carry $1 trillion in . Americans carry $1 trillion in personal debt, approximately $4,000 for every personal debt, approximately $4,000 for every man, woman and child, not including real man, woman and child, not including real estate and mortgages. On average, Americans estate and mortgages. On average, Americans save only 4 percent of their income, in contrast save only 4 percent of their income, in contrast to the Japanese, who save an average of 16 to the Japanese, who save an average of 16 percent.percent.

5. Which activity did more Americans 5. Which activity did more Americans do in 1996? do in 1996?

a. graduate from collegea. graduate from college

b. declare bankruptcyb. declare bankruptcy

Answer: bAnswer: b. In 1996, more than 1 million . In 1996, more than 1 million Americans declared bankruptcy, three Americans declared bankruptcy, three times as many as in 1986. Americans times as many as in 1986. Americans have more than 1 billion credit cards, have more than 1 billion credit cards, and less than one-third of credit card and less than one-third of credit card holders pay off their balances each holders pay off their balances each month.month.

6. In the industrialized world, where is the 6. In the industrialized world, where is the U.S. ranked in terms of its income equality U.S. ranked in terms of its income equality between the rich and the poor? (First being between the rich and the poor? (First being the most income-equal.) the most income-equal.)

a. 1sta. 1stb. 5thb. 5thc. 12thc. 12thd. 22ndd. 22nd

Answer: dAnswer: d. The income disparity . The income disparity between the rich and the poor is between the rich and the poor is greatest in the United States.greatest in the United States.

7. The world's 358 billionaires together 7. The world's 358 billionaires together possess as much money as the poorest possess as much money as the poorest _____ of the world's population? _____ of the world's population?

a. 15 percenta. 15 percent

b. 30 percentb. 30 percent

c. 50 percentc. 50 percent

d. 76 percentd. 76 percent

Answer: cAnswer: c. Nearly 50 percent. The . Nearly 50 percent. The world's 358 billionaires' combined world's 358 billionaires' combined assets roughly equal the assets of the assets roughly equal the assets of the world's poorest 2.5 billion people.world's poorest 2.5 billion people.

8. Since 1950, Americans alone have 8. Since 1950, Americans alone have used more resources than: used more resources than:

a. the Romans at the height a. the Romans at the height of the Roman Empireof the Roman Empire

b. the Chinese throughout b. the Chinese throughout their entire historytheir entire history

c. the combined Third World c. the combined Third World populationspopulations

d. all of the aboved. all of the above

Answer: All of the aboveAnswer: All of the above. Since 1950, . Since 1950, Americans alone have used more Americans alone have used more resources than everyone who ever lived resources than everyone who ever lived before them. Each American individual before them. Each American individual uses up 20 tons of basic raw materials uses up 20 tons of basic raw materials annually. Americans throw away 7 annually. Americans throw away 7 million cars a year, 2 million plastic million cars a year, 2 million plastic bottles an hour and enough aluminum bottles an hour and enough aluminum cans annually to make six thousand DC-cans annually to make six thousand DC-10 airplanes. 10 airplanes.

9. Americans' total yearly waste 9. Americans' total yearly waste would fill a convoy of garbage trucks would fill a convoy of garbage trucks long enough to:long enough to:

a. wrap around the Earth six timesa. wrap around the Earth six times

b. reach half-way to the moonb. reach half-way to the moon

c. connect the North and South Polesc. connect the North and South Poles

d. build a bridge between North America and d. build a bridge between North America and China China

Answer: a. and bAnswer: a. and b. Even though . Even though Americans comprise only five percent Americans comprise only five percent of the world's population, in 1996 we of the world's population, in 1996 we used nearly a third of its resources used nearly a third of its resources and produced almost half of its and produced almost half of its hazardous waste. The average North hazardous waste. The average North American consumes five times as American consumes five times as much as an average Mexican, 10 much as an average Mexican, 10 times as much as an average Chinese times as much as an average Chinese and 30 times as much as the average and 30 times as much as the average person in India. person in India.

10. Of the Americans who voluntarily 10. Of the Americans who voluntarily cut back their consumption, what cut back their consumption, what percent said (in 1995) that they are percent said (in 1995) that they are happier as a result?happier as a result?

a. 29 percenta. 29 percent

b. 42 percentb. 42 percent

c. 97 percentc. 97 percent

d. 86 percentd. 86 percent

Answer: dAnswer: d. Eighty-six percent of . Eighty-six percent of Americans who voluntarily cut back Americans who voluntarily cut back their consumption feel happier as a their consumption feel happier as a result. Only 9 percent said they were result. Only 9 percent said they were less happy. In 1996, 5 percent of the less happy. In 1996, 5 percent of the "baby boom" generation reported "baby boom" generation reported practicing a strong form of voluntary practicing a strong form of voluntary simplicity. By the year 2000, some simplicity. By the year 2000, some predict this number will rise to 15 predict this number will rise to 15 percent. percent.

ThoreauThoreau

Thoreau believed in Thoreau believed in living the simple life, living the simple life, in reducing one’s in reducing one’s worries, problems, worries, problems, and concerns to as and concerns to as few as possible. He few as possible. He believed in living in believed in living in the present and being the present and being fully immersed in the fully immersed in the moment. moment.

Thoreau said:Thoreau said:

“Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” ”

““Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” ”

Thoreau’s Walden TripThoreau’s Walden TripIn 1854, at age 28, Thoreau decided to In 1854, at age 28, Thoreau decided to downgrade. He went off into the woods in downgrade. He went off into the woods in Concord, Massachusetts in an effort to Concord, Massachusetts in an effort to find the real point of life. He lived there find the real point of life. He lived there for over two years. Here are the only for over two years. Here are the only things he brought on his trip:things he brought on his trip:

1 axe1 axe2 knives2 knives1 fork 1 fork 3 plates 3 plates 1 cup 1 cup 1 spoon 1 spoon a jug for oil a jug for oil a jug for molasses a jug for molasses 1 lamp1 lamp

Journal:Journal:

Think about your own life and daily activities. Think about your own life and daily activities. In your notes, jot down some ideas to the In your notes, jot down some ideas to the following question:following question:

What would Thoreau say to you about the What would Thoreau say to you about the simplicity or complexity of your life? Why?simplicity or complexity of your life? Why?