Assignment 108: Trenscendentalism

 Name:- Hinaba D.Sarvaiya.

M.A.- Sem-2 

Paper no:- 108 The American Literature

Roll number:- 09

Enrollment no:- 4069206420210032

Email ID:- hinabasarvaiya1711@gmail.com

Submitted by:- S.B.Gardi Department of English, MKBU.

Q- Explain the term "Transcendentalism" and write about the details of Transcendentalism.

Introduction:-

Transcendentalism was a 19th century American philosophical and religious movement that emerged out of Romanticism and was characterized by criticism of the perceived corruption of modernizing American society. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau are the best-known literary figures of transcendentalism. Eventually, transcendentalism proved to be a major influence on American life and letters. 

Transcendentalists believed in the supremacy and purity of the individual. Organized religion and politics, they argued were corrupting influences. Transcendentalists tended to prefer inner spiritual experiences, and borrowed heavily from the Bhagavad Gita, a book Thoreau referenced in Walden.

Transcendentalism also had a large idealist streak. Many wanted to create Utopian communities, and many sough out perfection in nature. Other notable transcendentalists were John Muir, Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson.

Term of Transcendentalism:-

TRANSCENDENTALISM is a very formal word that describes a very simple idea. People, men and women equally, have knowledge about themselves and the world around them that "transcends" or goes beyond what they can see, hear, taste, touch or feel.

This knowledge comes through intuition and imagination not through logic or the senses. People can trust themselves to be their own authority on what is right. A TRANSCENDENTALIST is a person who accepts these ideas not as religious beliefs but as a way of understanding life relationships.

Brief Overview of the Movement:-

Transcendentalism is a philosophical and social movement that began around 1836, in New England. However, before we delve into defining and comprehending this movement, it's necessary for one to understand why it was developed. It was created as a rebellious reaction to the previous Age of Reason, and its rationalist way of thinking. The original members of the movement also believed society and its organized institutions (for example, religion and politics) were corrupting the purity of individuals. The movement was created based on ideas from a variety of sources, including Hindu texts, various other religious ideas, and German idealism.

Transcendentalism, as a whole, centered on the writings and teachings of American author Ralph Waldo Emerson; it especially focused on his piece entitled, Self-Reliance. Transcendentalists were some of the first known non-conformists in America, and thus they critiqued contemporary society for its unthinking conformity. Through his writing, Emerson urged everyone to find his own 'original relation to the universe.' Now that we have a better idea why this movement was created, let's move on and focus on its core, essential values. 

Transcendentalist Values:-

Transcendentalists believed in numerous values, however they can all be condensed into three basic, essential values: individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature.

Individualism:-

As we discussed briefly earlier, transcendentalist followers alleged that organized institutions in society, like religion and politics, negatively tainted individuals' innocence. At the same time, they believed that individuals are at their best when they are entirely independent and 'self-reliant,' hence Emerson's essay of the same name. The notion of thinking for oneself without following the rules set forth by a society is one of the fundamental tenets of transcendentalism. This concept inspires one to have his own free thoughts, based on his own values, rather than the values of others.

As you can probably imagine, during the early 19th Century when this movement was first created, its members were not well-received, or even liked, by many others. However, rather than feeling defeated, true transcendentalists remained true to their movement's new values and continued to advocate for their unpopular, nonconformist ideas. Because of this, many members of society, or the conformists, feared transcendentalists and assumed them to be out to wreak havoc on society. These people were mistaken though, because the true purpose of becoming an individual, according to transcendentalist belief, is to promote the peace and harmony of becoming oneself. One of Emerson's famous aphorisms helps clarify this belief: 'conformity is the death of individualism.'

Idealism:-

The second key value of the transcendentalist movement is that of idealism. This value is a little more self-explanatory. Between the Age of Reason and Transcendentalism was the Romanticism movement; similarly to the British Romantics, this movement focused on the use of creativity and imagination, something the Age of Reason obviously greatly strayed from. The focus of idealism in the transcendentalist way of thinking sought to continue to utilize the innovative, imaginative ideas from the previous Romantic Movement. The members of the transcendentalist movement hoped to break away from the strict confines of the Age of Reason, and bring society into a more ideal, enjoyable environment.

Divinity of Nature:-

The final essential transcendental value is the belief in the divinity of nature. Transcendentalists did not believe in organized religion, but they were very spiritual people. Remember how we said some of their original doctrines were based on the works of spiritual advisors and Hindu teachings? They believed that nature is sacred, and that it is imperative for individuals to connect with nature.

Transcendentalists were lovers of nature, and did not think it was something that could be controlled by anyone. Instead, they believed that the only thing people can control is what is in their own minds (remember their focus on individualism?). According to transcendentalists, if one senses a strong connection to nature, then he will be able to understand his oversoul and, in effect, be able to live a successful, complete life, free from any constraints placed upon him by conforming to society. The term oversoul is a transcendentalist term, which explains that everything is connected and thus happens for a reason; therefore, transcendentalists also believe that, since nature is divine, we must not interfere with it and leave it be as God intended.

What are the basic elements of transcendentalism?

Five predominant elements of Transcendentalism are nonconformity, self-reliance, free thought, confidence, and the importance of nature. These concepts are liberally sprinkled throughout Emerson's essay "Nature."

What are the major themes of transcendentalism?

Self-Wisdom. Quite simply, Transcendentalism is based on the belief that human beings have self-wisdom and may gain this knowledge or wisdom by tuning in to the ebb and flow of nature. ...

Nature and Its Meaning. ...

Social Reform.

What are the two main beliefs of transcendentalism?

To simplify: this means that transcendentalism suggests how people can come up with their own ideas and solutions to the problems they face, without ever reaching into the pool of ideas found in the past. There are only two key beliefs in the core of transcendentalist philosophy.

Emerson's Transcendentalism:-

Emerson the reader of new England Transcendentalism? Here we comes however professor Girard with a new defination of the movement which leaves Emerson practically out of it. 

Professor Girard's arguments against Emerson are the following. Emerson is not a true Transcendentalist because he had no system and was more a poet than a philosopher, because his rationalism 

"Did not allow reason to take any interest in matters pertaining to the heart, not conscience in what concerned society"

Because of his platonic cast of mind, his egotism and indifference to practical reforms and reformers. Moreover, befor Emerson published Nature(1836), Transcendentalism has found in Channing its most original and definite expression which was "essentially religious" Brownson and Ripley, with Channing are 'the soul' of Transcendentalism and not Emerson.

Professor Girard's remarks that we read of Emerson 'He certainly was a transcedentalists. Since he makes of intaintion a source of konwledge' while we find "Emerson was not properly speaking a transcedentalist".

Professor Girard's views of Transcendentalism undera double aspect, the first 'essentially religious' and second is 'Philosophical'. And letus see how Emerson stands, in both cases, as a true Transcendentalist.

If between 1825 and 1835, Transcendentalism in New England had but a religious aspect it had no other for Emerson himself. Emerson refers all religions to the test of individual experience. The foundation of religious belief are in the inner sence which no criticism, historical not critical, can affect. 'The in most soul is God'. That is summary of Emerson's religious doctrine and result of his religious evolution. We find in his favorite theory of Self-reliance as expressed in an autobiographical poem of 1832, at a time when Emerson tried to find his way between the teching of Unitarianism and the appeal of 'the still small voice' with in himself; 

"Who says the heart's a blind guide? It is not"

Self-reliance is for Emerson a declartion of spiritual independence a plea for religious antonomy.

Conclusion:-

Transcendentalism was a 19th century American philosophical and religious movement. Transcedentalists believed in the supermacy and purity of they argued were corrupting influences. Here we find that that Transcendentalism is new term of America and also believed that importance of oneself and create your own way, find a new way of life in own footprint. We are freely or independence for thinking of us and Transcendentalism always pushed on individualism. Here we see the Emerson is as a  Transcendentalist and his philosophy of the Self-reliance.

  

Words:- 1,518.

Work citations:-

Michaud, Régis. “Emerson’s Transcendentalism.” The American Journal of Psychology, vol. 30, no. 1, 1919, pp. 73–82, https://doi.org/10.2307/1413661. Accessed 7 May 2022.

"The American Transcendentalists: Values & Explanation." Study.com, 3 January 2016, study.com/academy/lesson/the-american-transcendentalists-values-lesson-quiz.html