Transcendentalism is a philosophical and literary movement that originated in the early 19th century New England. It emerged as a reaction against the general state of intellectualism and spirituality at the time. The transcendentalists emphasized the importance of the individual and intuition over logic and science. Some of the main concepts of transcendentalism include:
Belief in the innate goodness of people
The transcendentalists believed that all people are inherently good. They rejected the Calvinist concept of the innate depravity of humans. Instead, they argued that divinity resides in each person, and that by transcending one’s physical senses, one could connect to this inner spirituality. As it says in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” All humans contain a divine spark within them.
Emphasis on individualism
Transcendentalism celebrates the uniqueness of each individual. Instead of conforming to societal pressures and norms, transcendentalists encouraged people to think for themselves and follow their own convictions. As it says in Romans 14:5 “One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.” The diversity of opinions and beliefs among individuals was seen as a positive.
Importance of self-reliance
The transcendentalists stressed the importance of self-reliance – relying on one’s own abilities and judgment rather than on others’ opinions or perceptions. This is reflected in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 “And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” Being true to one’s own self took priority over conforming to the expectations of society.
Rejection of materialism
Transcendentalists rejected the rampant materialism and consumerism of modern society. They emphasized living a simple life focused on intellectual pursuits over material possessions and wealth. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Material possessions were not seen as important.
Idealism and optimism
Transcendentalists maintained an idealistic worldview. They had faith that humanity could transcend the problems of the physical world and create positive change. There was an emphasis on optimism, individual growth, and fulfillment. As it states in Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Thoughts and attitudes were seen as capable of transforming one’s life and the world.
Importance of nature
Nature was seen as a gateway to the divine. Transcendentalists encouraged immersion in and contemplation of the natural world. They saw nature as a source of spiritual knowledge and connection to God. As Psalm 19:1 states “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Spending time in nature could elevate one’s insights and lead to transcendence above mundane concerns.
Critique of institutionalized religion
While transcendentalists were spiritually inclined, they were critical of organized religion. Many rejected mainstream theology and church authority. They objected to religious rituals, doctrine, and scriptural literalism. As it says in Matthew 23:27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness.” Transcendentalists focused on intuitive spiritual experience over religious dogma.
Prominence of meditation and reflection
Transcendentalism encouraged deep introspective thought and meditation as a way to gain deeper knowledge and meaning. As Psalm 46:10 advises “Be still, and know that I am God.” Meditation and contemplation of spiritual matters, nature, and existence itself could lead to transcendence and profound understanding. Stillness and reflection were seen as paths to truth.
Appreciation of beauty and art
Transcendentalists found beauty and artistic expression to be vital parts of life. They saw art as providing spiritual nourishment and uplift. As Philippians 4:8 mentions “whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any excellence and anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Beauty in nature and art connected individuals to the divine essence at the core of existence. Creativity was seen as an outlet for the soul.
In essence, transcendentalism was a literary, philosophical, and spiritual movement that rebelled against societal conformity, valued nature, idealism, and individualism, and emphasized self-reliance, introspection, and rejection of materialism. While transcendentalists were critical of organized religion, they focused on intuitive spiritual experience as opposed to doctrine. Their core beliefs about the innate goodness of humans, the divine within each person, and the transcendent power of thought continue to influence culture and spirituality today.
Key Figures of Transcendentalism
Some of the major figures associated with transcendentalism include:
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Emerson was one of the founders of transcendentalist philosophy. Through his writings, speeches, and influence on other thinkers, he played a pivotal role in disseminating transcendentalist ideas. His essay “Nature” (1836) laid out key transcendentalist beliefs. Emerson emphasized the importance of reconnecting with nature, developing self-reliance, and forming a personal relationship with spirit or God.
Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau was heavily influenced by Emerson and transcendentalist views. He put transcendentalist philosophy into practice through civil disobedience against slavery and the Mexican-American War. His experiment living self-sufficiently for two years in a cabin at Walden Pond further embodied transcendentalist emphasis on nature, simplicity, and self-reliance.
Margaret Fuller
Fuller was an author, editor, and educator associated with the transcendentalist movement. She edited the transcendentalist journal The Dial along with Emerson. Fuller emphasized the importance of women’s rights and education. She sought to integrate transcendentalism with feminism and social reform.
Walt Whitman
Whitman’s poetry embodied transcendentalist ideas and attitudes. His poem “Song of Myself” exemplified transcendentalist celebration of the individual, nature, and the divinity of the soul. Whitman broke from traditional poetic forms to capture the transcendentalist spirit of freedom, idealism, and introspection.
Bronson Alcott
Alcott was an educator who established the Temple School based on transcendentalist principles. His educational philosophy focused on tapping into children’s innate moral sense instead of imposing discipline and structure. Alcott pioneered child-centered, experiential education driven by student interest.
These thinkers helped spread transcendentalist ideas through literature, public talks, social activism, and educational initiatives. Their works and lives inspired generations of artists, writers, educators, and activists.
Origins of Transcendentalist Thought
Transcendentalism did not emerge in a vacuum. It drew inspiration from various philosophical, religious, and cultural sources. Some of the major influences on transcendentalist thought include:
German Idealism
The transcendentalists were influenced by the metaphysical idealism philosophy of Immanuel Kant and later German thinkers like G. W. F. Hegel. Idealism held that fundamental reality exists beyond the physical world accessible to the senses. This aligned with transcendentalism’s emphasis on intuition over empiricism.
Romanticism
The Romantic literary and artistic movement also profoundly shaped transcendentalism. Romanticism celebrated nature, emotion, individuality, imagination, idealism, and rebellion against formal artistic and social conventions. Transcendentalism adopted these outlooks while emphasizing spirituality.
Puritanism and Calvinism
While transcendentalism rebelled against Puritanism’s cultural dominance and rigidity, it inherited some traits like the value placed on piety, self-examination, and simplistic living. However, transcendentalists reacted against Puritan fire-and-brimstone theology with a much more optimistic view of human nature.
Indian religions
Transcendentalists like Emerson and Thoreau were influenced by Hinduism and other Asian belief systems. Concepts like self-reliance, meditation, nature veneration, and the goal of transcending the ego found parallels in Indian philosophy and religion.
Emanuel Swedenborg
Swedenborg was an 18th century Swedish philosopher whose metaphysical writings about correspondences between the material and spiritual worlds influenced transcendentalist thinkers. Swedenborg inspired transcendentalism’s reconciliation between science and religion.
By engaging with these diverse traditions while maintaining focus on spirituality and individual experience, the transcendentalists carved out their own unique philosophy that would greatly impact American intellectual and literary history.
Transcendentalism’s Influence on Social Reform
The transcendentalists were not idle dreamers or escapists. Many engaged actively with social issues and causes. Transcendentalist ideals often spurred action against injustice. Some ways transcendentalism influenced reform movements include:
Abolitionism
Prominent transcendentalists like Emerson, Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller strongly opposed slavery. They advocated for immediate emancipation long before abolitionism gained mainstream traction. Transcendental philosophy clearly contradicted slavery.
Women’s rights
Fuller was an early feminist who argued for equal education and political rights for women. Other transcendentalists also advocated for women’s empowerment and equality. The focus on individual potential aligned with extending more opportunity to women.
Pacifism
Thoreau’s essay “Resistance to Civil Government” and other acts of civil disobedience inspired many later activists. Opposition to the Mexican-American War and other conflicts stemmed from the transcendentalist view of humanity’s inherent goodness.
Simplicity
Thoreau’s Walden experiment of living simply and self-sufficiently, close to nature, spawned a movement toward simplicity that later influenced the environmental movement. Rejection of materialism led many to embrace sustainable living.
Education reform
Innovative transcendentalist schools sought to nurture children’s interest, creative self-expression, and goodwill towards learning. This educational philosophy presaged later alternative schools and progressive reforms.
While not overtly political, transcendentalism’s emphasis on individual conscience, critical thinking, and idealism helped instigate action against many social ills. It provided philosophical grounding for several key reform movements that aimed for a more just society.
Transcendentalism’s Lasting Legacy
Though transcendentalism flourished for a relatively brief period from the 1830s to 1860s, its effects endured and continues to shape American culture:
Individualism
Transcendentalism promoted radical individualism and nonconformity when communal identities dominated society. Its celebration of self-reliance and uniqueness profoundly impacted American thinking.
Environmentalism
Transcendentalism fostered appreciation for nature and a tendency toward environmental conservation. It shapes modern environmentalism’s spiritual attitudes toward nature.
Conscience over law
Thoreau’s idea of civil disobedience through following one’s own moral conscience pioneered later activism. It reinforced moral individualism over unjust laws.
Social justice
The transcendentalists were among the first American thinkers to confront issues like slavery, gender inequality, militarism and materialism. This expanded later movements.
Self-help culture
Transcendentalism contributed to a focus on cultivating oneself from within instead of seeking external aid. Its ethos persists in modern self-help practices.
Progressive education
Alternative schools developed by transcendentalists helped drive progressive educational reforms emphasizing creativity over rote learning, embodied by thinkers like Montessori.
Psychology and spirituality
Transcendentalism’s interest in personal growth, self-actualization, meditation, dreams and the unconscious paved the way for humanistic psychology, transpersonal psychology and other mind-body-spirit integrative approaches.
Through these diverse avenues, transcendentalism profoundly shaped not just literature, but broader American thought, values, identity, education, environmental awareness, spirituality, social activism and notions of individuality. Its influence continues to be widely felt today.