Transcendentalism: A Philosophical Movement In The 19th Century

Mohammed Mikky

Sr. Ruwa

English CP2 Essay

12/20/2015

Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that began in the 19th century. It was a protest against the previous generation of rationalism and thinking. One of the top figures and founders of this movement was called Ralph Waldo Emerson, and intellectual essayist, poet, and lecturer who successfully influenced many people to become transcendentalists such as Emma Goldman, Marcel Proust, etc. Ralph Waldo Emerson was born in Boston Massachusetts (May 25, 1803) to Ruth Hakins and Reverend William Emerson. His father was a Unitarian, or belief that God is one entity, which is the opposite of Trinitarainism. His father died early on in his life and was partially raised by his aunt. He attended Boston Latin School at the age of nine and attended Harvard College at the age of fourteen. In 1826, he left Boston and traveled to the south because of the colder climates up north. In Florida he met

This was the beginning of the Transcendalist movement and the next year, he invited Margaret Fuller, Elizabeth Hoar, and Sarah Ripley to talk about Transcendentalism. In the same year, he befriended Henry David Thoreau who later became one of the leading supporters of this movement. He delivered many lectures such as the Divinity School Address where he rejected the belief in trinity, and the Philosophy of History. He wrote many essays publishing Essays: Second Series. Emerson also publishes Poems and takes over editorship of the Dial Transcendalist newspaper. Because of Transcendalist beliefs that every individual deserved divine inspiration and knowledge which caused transcendalists to be part of social reforms such as Abolitionism and Feminism. Emerson publishes more books and lectures until his death in 1882 when he catches a cold in his home in