For your given topic, post original information that provides insight into American Transcendentalism for your peers. Cite your sources (providing a website link is adequate)
Transcentdentalism is based on the belief that the self wisdom of humans can be obtained by tunning in to tides and the surges of nature. Transcentdentalism also revolves around oneself, and even more specifically the betterment of yourself. Different transcendentalist writers perceived the message of the group differently. Most of the writings and thoughts of Transcentdentalism revolves around nature.
Philosophy of Transcendentalism In the early 19th century, the literary, political, and philosophical movement of Transcendentalism emerged in New England. It attracted many prominent, well-educated people in that region, and eventually spread throughout the country. Stimulated by European romantic thought and Biblical criticism, they operated with the sense that a new era was beginning. They criticized society and its emphasis on conformity, urging that people carve out their own world for themselves. Members of the movement such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau sought this in nature. Other Transcendentalists built social experiments such as Brook Farm and Walden, and became increasingly involved in issues such as slavery and women’s rights. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy “Transcendentalism” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/, June 24, 2008 Hagop
Transcendentalists worked to oppose the Unitarian philosophies of blind faith that had originally been supported by the European regimes of the time. These Transcendentalist philosophies first came together while the original pioneers of transcendentalism attended Harvard University.
The American transcendentalism of the nineteenth century “is not a religion” because it does not contain the concepts that distinguish a set of beliefs as a religion in a traditional sense. It does not address the conventional aspects of religions such as belief in a God, an afterlife or the idea that one’s life poses consequences on the next. Transcendentalism is a practical philosophy and a form of spirituality. Because this philosophy differed based on the individual opinions and intuition of each believer, there was often some disagreement between transcendentalists. However, there were several basic premises which are accepted by all transcendentalists; the belief that the “individual is the spiritual center of the universe” because it is the individual who ultimately decides what is true, the individual creates their own universe, one can learn infinitesimally from the study of nature and the belief that “virtue and happiness” are found through self realization. Transcendentalism is similar to many of the religions that were prevalent in America in the nineteenth century. It acquired many of its premises from religions such as Puritanism, Quakerism, Unitarianism which was only just beginning to emerge, and Romanticism. Transcendentalism owes its ideas of “inner light” and the all-encompassing “doctrine of divine light” to Quaker and Puritan beliefs. However, the Transcendentalists saw these ideas as acts of human intuition rather than acts of a God. Transcendentalism paralleled Unitarianism in that the “individual was the true source of moral light” rather than God. Also, transcendentalists used the Romantic belief that nature has no inherent structure and that it was not designed by a God.
How did Transcendentalism start? (1836) The birthplace of Transcendentalism was in Concord, a small town just outside of Boston, however earlier roots can be found in the ideas of English scholars. Both Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in Concord in the early 19th century, and it was from these men and others that the idea of Transcendentalism was born. The emergence of Transcendentalism was heavily influenced by Unitarianism, the dominant religion in Boston during the 19th century, however Transcendentalists did not fully agree with all the Unitarian principles. Transcendentalist scholars yearned for a deeper spiritual experience and so Transcendentalism emerged.
Female transcendentalist authors who were they? How was their message different?
Margaret Fuller was a transcendentalist American author, NYC Tribune journalist, and feminist who was a close friend and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson in the New England movement of Transcendentalism in the 19th Century. Fuller strongly believed in equal rights for women just as much as for blacks, and she advocated for especially for the education of women, as well as all people of society including the homeless. However, she differed from other transcendentalists because she didn’t consider herself a part of any single organization including Unitarianism, which she sometimes involved in. She even criticized her close confidante, Emerson, on being too interested individualist improvement of transcendentalism rather than social reform. Another female transcendentalist author was Elizabeth Peabody, an educator who established the first kindergarten in the U.S, owner of a bookstore where lectures by Margaret fuller were held, and business manager of the Dial transcendentalist publications. Along with transcendentalism, Peabody advocated antislavery and fought for the rights of the Paiute Native Americans. She focused on answering important questions directed towards women such as: “What were we born to do? How shall we do it?” (Wikipedia). Emily Dickinson, a well-known American poet, followed the transcendentalist ideal by intending only to be herself in her writings, and by never associating with a specific school or organization she remained a complete individual. In her poetry she searches for universal truths, immortality, faith, life, and investigates human nature
What was the time period and current situation in America (post revolution/ pre civil war)?
Transcendentalism was a movement in philosophy and literature in the nineteenth century, specifically in 1836-1860. Transcendentalism was a reform movement of the Unitarian Church (Campbell). America was experiencing many other issues at this point as well. One of these being the growth of America as the Mexican-American war ended and the US gained Texas. Slavery was also an issue as it was still a widespread controversy though out the country
Campbell, Donna . "American Transcendentalism." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .
In the mid-1800s, the Transcendentalist movement became an important movement for philosophy and literature. Many Transcendentalists became interested in anti-slavery. For people who were radical in the anti-slavery movement, the word Abolitionist was used. Because the transcendentalists were located in the North, the anti-slavery movement was very prominent in the North. Most of the authors who wrote in the Transcendentalist movement, were supporters of these social reforms. The anti-slavery movement was in mostly the same time period as Transcendentalism, with each starting from the 1830s and continuing into the 1860s.
The women’s rights movement in the 19th century was an effort to change the social standing of women in the United States and Britain. It was the first wave of women’s rights during the history of United States. Women fought to be seen as equals rather which was more of a cultural and social fight. The social movement was able to inspire women to fight for political equality.
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Themes and Issues Adressed in Transcentdentalism
Transcentdentalism is based on the belief that the self wisdom of humans can be obtained by tunning in to tides and the surges of nature. Transcentdentalism also revolves around oneself, and even more specifically the betterment of yourself. Different transcendentalist writers perceived the message of the group differently. Most of the writings and thoughts of Transcentdentalism revolves around nature.
http://howlandpowpak.neomin.org/powpak/cgi-bin/article_display_page.pl?id=thomas.williams/american&ar=20
Philosophy of Transcendentalism
In the early 19th century, the literary, political, and philosophical movement of Transcendentalism emerged in New England. It attracted many prominent, well-educated people in that region, and eventually spread throughout the country. Stimulated by European romantic thought and Biblical criticism, they operated with the sense that a new era was beginning. They criticized society and its emphasis on conformity, urging that people carve out their own world for themselves. Members of the movement such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau sought this in nature. Other Transcendentalists built social experiments such as Brook Farm and Walden, and became increasingly involved in issues such as slavery and women’s rights.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy “Transcendentalism” http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/transcendentalism/, June 24, 2008
Hagop
Original opposition to Transcendentalism
Transcendentalists worked to oppose the Unitarian philosophies of blind faith that had originally been supported by the European regimes of the time. These Transcendentalist philosophies first came together while the original pioneers of transcendentalism attended Harvard University.
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma95/finseth/trans.html
Ibad
Religious Philosophy and Transcendentalism
The American transcendentalism of the nineteenth century “is not a religion” because it does not contain the concepts that distinguish a set of beliefs as a religion in a traditional sense. It does not address the conventional aspects of religions such as belief in a God, an afterlife or the idea that one’s life poses consequences on the next. Transcendentalism is a practical philosophy and a form of spirituality. Because this philosophy differed based on the individual opinions and intuition of each believer, there was often some disagreement between transcendentalists. However, there were several basic premises which are accepted by all transcendentalists; the belief that the “individual is the spiritual center of the universe” because it is the individual who ultimately decides what is true, the individual creates their own universe, one can learn infinitesimally from the study of nature and the belief that “virtue and happiness” are found through self realization.
Transcendentalism is similar to many of the religions that were prevalent in America in the nineteenth century. It acquired many of its premises from religions such as Puritanism, Quakerism, Unitarianism which was only just beginning to emerge, and Romanticism. Transcendentalism owes its ideas of “inner light” and the all-encompassing “doctrine of divine light” to Quaker and Puritan beliefs. However, the Transcendentalists saw these ideas as acts of human intuition rather than acts of a God. Transcendentalism paralleled Unitarianism in that the “individual was the true source of moral light” rather than God. Also, transcendentalists used the Romantic belief that nature has no inherent structure and that it was not designed by a God.
http://www.csustan.edu/english/reuben/pal/chap4/4intro.html
How did Transcendentalism start? (1836)
The birthplace of Transcendentalism was in Concord, a small town just outside of Boston, however earlier roots can be found in the ideas of English scholars. Both Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson lived in Concord in the early 19th century, and it was from these men and others that the idea of Transcendentalism was born. The emergence of Transcendentalism was heavily influenced by Unitarianism, the dominant religion in Boston during the 19th century, however Transcendentalists did not fully agree with all the Unitarian principles. Transcendentalist scholars yearned for a deeper spiritual experience and so Transcendentalism emerged.
http://www.shepherd.edu/transweb/concord.htm
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~ma95/finseth/trans.html
Female transcendentalist authors who were they? How was their message different?
Margaret Fuller was a transcendentalist American author, NYC Tribune journalist, and feminist who was a close friend and colleague of Ralph Waldo Emerson in the New England movement of Transcendentalism in the 19th Century. Fuller strongly believed in equal rights for women just as much as for blacks, and she advocated for especially for the education of women, as well as all people of society including the homeless. However, she differed from other transcendentalists because she didn’t consider herself a part of any single organization including Unitarianism, which she sometimes involved in. She even criticized her close confidante, Emerson, on being too interested individualist improvement of transcendentalism rather than social reform. Another female transcendentalist author was Elizabeth Peabody, an educator who established the first kindergarten in the U.S, owner of a bookstore where lectures by Margaret fuller were held, and business manager of the Dial transcendentalist publications. Along with transcendentalism, Peabody advocated antislavery and fought for the rights of the Paiute Native Americans. She focused on answering important questions directed towards women such as: “What were we born to do? How shall we do it?” (Wikipedia). Emily Dickinson, a well-known American poet, followed the transcendentalist ideal by intending only to be herself in her writings, and by never associating with a specific school or organization she remained a complete individual. In her poetry she searches for universal truths, immortality, faith, life, and investigates human nature
What was the time period and current situation in America (post revolution/ pre civil war)?
Transcendentalism was a movement in philosophy and literature in the nineteenth century, specifically in 1836-1860. Transcendentalism was a reform movement of the Unitarian Church (Campbell). America was experiencing many other issues at this point as well. One of these being the growth of America as the Mexican-American war ended and the US gained Texas. Slavery was also an issue as it was still a widespread controversy though out the country
Campbell, Donna . "American Transcendentalism." Washington State University - Pullman, Washington. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Sept. 2010. .
Cameron
Social Movement Anti-Slavery:
In the mid-1800s, the Transcendentalist movement became an important movement for philosophy and literature. Many Transcendentalists became interested in anti-slavery. For people who were radical in the anti-slavery movement, the word Abolitionist was used. Because the transcendentalists were located in the North, the anti-slavery movement was very prominent in the North. Most of the authors who wrote in the Transcendentalist movement, were supporters of these social reforms. The anti-slavery movement was in mostly the same time period as Transcendentalism, with each starting from the 1830s and continuing into the 1860s.
http://www.transcendentalists.com/what.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abolitionism
Women’s Rights Social Movement
The women’s rights movement in the 19th century was an effort to change the social standing of women in the United States and Britain. It was the first wave of women’s rights during the history of United States. Women fought to be seen as equals rather which was more of a cultural and social fight. The social movement was able to inspire women to fight for political equality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_movement
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_movement
Claire
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