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The influence of transcendentalism
The influence of transcendentalism
The influence of transcendentalism
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Transcendentalism is a highly competitive world of the market revolution which strongly encouraged the identification of American freedom without any restraints on people who were seeking financial improvement and personal development. It was a world in which regional developments along with the market revolution crushed traditional and social borders. For example moving from one place to another was a common characteristic of the American life. Transcendentalism believed in individual judgment over existing social traditions and institutions.
The United States, it is often thought, was born in rebellion. This is the story reinforced by the Declaration of Independence, and it’s the story promoted by the first elected officials of this country. America has been a nation of protestors -- be it protest against Britain, “savages,” heathens, police, abortion, racism, or taxes -- since its inception. According to the early 19th century Transcendentalists, however, the greatest battle before Americans is the battle for one’s very soul. Dean Grodzins is a Harvard-educated historian, and a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Historical Society specializing in mid-19th century American history.
Transcendentalism is a term used to describe people who don’t comply to societal norms, and do what they please, instead of what’s expected.
The Progressive Era was a movement from the late 19th century to the early 20th century where many people in the United States tried to reform political, social, and economic injustices. This might sound like a good thing, but most of the movement was filled with corruption and ulterior motives. The Progressive movement was not entirely clean; while there were selfless reformers, many reformers only wanted reform if it suited them. Using the historical interpretations of George Mowry, Joseph Huthmacher, and James J. Connolly, I will explain who the progressives were and what their reformed society entailed. I will also state what historian is most persuasive and why.
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”- Henry David Thoreau. Transcendentalism is an American philosophy that revolves around self-reliance and independence, commonly in nature, a Transcendentalist wants to find the true meaning in life. I believe that Chris McCandless was a Transcendentalist because he was able to leave his whole life behind and take on a minimalist lifestyle while having a strong relationship with god. However, I believe that I am not a Transcendentalist, but simply an adventurer.
Secular governing, also known as the separation of church and state, has not been around for a long period of time. Since before the United States was founded, there have been many radical changes in the general consensus on whether or not a government should encourage or even force a religion on its people. With Puritanism, Deism, and Transcendentalism, it is easy to see a change in attitudes as the years went by. The canonical literature created by some of the celebrated writers in the United States shows a progression over time in regards to different beliefs and their views on secular governments.
Though its intention may seem simple, the notion of freedom is bursting with complexities. Many forms of freedom exist: political, personal, and economic to name a few, and who gains this freedom depends on the time in history. In the late eighteenth century, Common Sense, written by British radical Thomas Paine, attempted to convince the colonies, which were enslaved by Great Britain’s oppressive tyranny, to fight for political and personal freedoms. However, this right to a government to ensure security and property excluded African Americans, and thus, did not truly encompass the notion of freedom. African Americans continued to be mistreated throughout the following century.
Societal dysfunction, such as economic depression, provokes compelling fantasies, leaving individuals curious about “what ifs” and the possibility of astonishing alternate realities. Furthermore, fluctuations in social dynamics, like a sharp increase in the rise of unemployment and the establishment of friction amongst divided classes, create the ideal environment for new ideas and daring literature. Consequently, Aldous Huxley embodied the aforementioned passion for dysfunction during a time when society was exceedingly turbulent; these conditions lead to his creation of the novel Brave New World in 1931. Huxley 's work was a premonition for the future in relation to a powerful central government and complacent individuals.
Transcendentalist writer Mohandas K. Ghandi fought against injustice in laws, he himself would not approve that modern life is controlled by gadgets and gizmos. I believe that Ghandi would agree with my thought that this world needs to go back to simple times so that our lives are controlled by technology. He said “We made it clear….we would never bow to its outrageous laws”by letting technology guide us through life, is us bowing down to our unjust government. The gizmos are a distraction away from what this government is doing to our world and how it controls our way of living. Ghandi’s views of the unjust laws are similar to my views of technology in this world.
Ralph Waldo Emerson was American poet, essayist and philosopher. He was born in on May 25, 1803 in Boston Massachusetts. He studies at Harvard and was teaching for a brief time, Emerson entered the ministry. He was one of the most influential writers and thinkers of the nineteenth century in the United States. He was the first major American literary and intellectual Figure to widely explore write seriously about and seek to broaden the domestic audience for the classical Asian and Middle Eastern works.
A transcendentalist society seems like it would be perfect in this world. With all the hatred and judgment in the world, it seems like a transcendentalist society would help people throughout the world. Though the goal of a transcendentalist society might be impossible in today’s world. People for the most part have free will, so one cannot force another to be accepting and do not judge people. Also, the outside world and media are both very judgmental, and would have a great effect on how people feel about others.
Transcendentalism is called the American Renaissance, it followed the first Industrial Revolution and had many great leaders that pioneered it. Transcendentalism and Romanticism are similar and share great leaders, such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, but their ideals relate to man differently. Romanticism focuses on exploring the mortality and Transcendentalism focuses on exploring the spirit and individuality of man. The period of Transcendentalism grew during the 1800s and was led by people such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Nathaniel Hawthorne primarily, though Hawthorne was very involved in Romanticism. Emerson was mentor to Thoreau and taught him about Transcendentalism and about the exploration of the individual.
1. New religious sects, as well as new literary movements and the Industrial Revolution fueled reformers into making differences in our society. To begin with, Ralph Waldo Emerson and his literary influence had a huge impact on reformers. Emerson strongly believed in transcendentalism, which was an intellectual movement that rejected traditional religion and was based around the idea that people are trapped by inherited customs and institutions. His message of self realization spread to several hundred thousands of people(through his writings and lectures).
Transcendentalism, a philosophical and social movement, demonstrated how divinity spreads through all nature and humanity. One of the main ideals of transcendentalism, living simply and independently, define as the principle. In matters of financial and interpersonal relations, independence projects as more valuable than neediness. Henry david Thoreau elaborates on these transcendentalist ideals when he travels into the woods and writes an essay.
Transcendentalism was an American literary movement that started in the early nineteenth century. A very famous transcendentalist writer was Ralph Waldo Emerson. Ralph was the central figure of the movement that brought about the movement with one of his publishing titled “Self Reliance”. He lecture about the importance of individuality. Ralph Waldo Emerson stress the importance of nonconformity by talking about the individual, famous figures of history who did not conform to their surroundings and how people will try to force conformity upon you.