Transcendentalists

Transcendentalists 

Transcendentalism, 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought based on a belief in the essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of humanity, and the supremacy of insight over logic and experience for the revelation of the deepest truths. German transcendentalism (especially as it was refracted by Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Thomas Carlyle), Platonism and Neoplatonism, the Indian and Chinese scriptures, and the writings of such mystics as Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme were sources to which the New England Transcendentalists turned in their search for a liberating philosophy.

Eclectic and cosmopolitan in its sources and part of the Romantic movement, New England Transcendentalism originated in the area around Concord, Massachusetts, and from 1830 to 1855 represented a battle between the younger and older generations and the emergence of a new national culture based on native materials. It attracted such diverse and highly individualistic figures as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Margaret Fuller, Orestes Brownson,  Elizabeth Palmer Peabody, and James Freeman Clarke, as well as George Ripley, Bronson Alcott, the younger W.E. Channing, and W.H. Channing. In 1840 Emerson and Margaret Fuller founded The Dial (1840–44), the prototypal “little magazine” wherein some of the best writings by minor Transcendentalists appeared. The writings of the Transcendentalists and those of contemporaries such as Walt Whitman, Herman Melville, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, for whom they prepared the ground, represent the first flowering of the American artistic genius and introduced the American Renaissance in literature.

Transcendentalists rejected the conventions of 18th-century thought, and what began in a dissatisfaction with Unitarianism developed into a repudiation of the whole established order. They were leaders in experimental schemes for living (Thoreau at Walden Pond, Alcott at Fruitlands, Ripley at Brook Farm); women’s suffrage; better conditions for workers; temperance for all; modifications of dress and diet; the rise of free religion; educational innovation; and other humanitarian causes.

Transcendentalists’ organic philosophy, aesthetics, and democratic aspirations were the pragmatism of William James and John Dewey, the environmental planning of Benton MacKaye and Lewis Mumford, the architecture (and writings) of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright, and the American “modernism” in the arts promoted by Alfred Stieglitz.

Some of the transcendentalist beliefs are:

Humans are inherently good.

Society and its institutions such as organized religion and politics are corrupting. 

Instead of being part of them, humans should strive to be independent and self-reliant.

Spirituality should come from the self, not organized religion.

Insight and experience are more important than logic.

Nature is beautiful, should be deeply appreciated, and shouldn’t be altered by humans.

Major Transcendentalist Values

The transcendentalist movement encompassed many beliefs, but these all fit into their three main values of individualism, idealism, and the divinity of nature.

Individualism

Perhaps the most important transcendentalist value was the importance of the individual. They saw the individual as pure, and they believed that society and its institutions corrupted this purity. Transcendentalists highly valued the concept of thinking for oneself and believed people were best when they were independent and could think for themselves. Only then could individuals come together and form ideal communities.

Idealism

The focus on idealism comes from Romanticism, a slightly earlier movement. Instead of valuing logic and learned knowledge as many educated people at the time did, transcendentalists placed great importance on imagination, intuition and creativity. They saw the values of the Age of Reason as controlling and confining, and they wanted to bring back a more “ideal” and enjoyable way of living.

Divinity of Nature

Transcendentalists didn’t believe in organized religion, but they were very spiritual. Instead of believing in the divinity of religious figures, they saw nature as sacred and divine. They believed it was crucial for humans to have a close relationship with nature, the same way religious leaders preach about the importance of having a close relationship with God. Transcendentalists saw nature as perfect as it was; humans shouldn’t try to change or improve it.

Key Figures in the Transcendentalist Movement

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Emerson is the key figure in transcendentalism. He brought together many of the original transcendentalists, and his writings form the foundation of many of the movement’s beliefs. The day before he published his essay “Nature” he invited a group of his friends to join the “Transcendental Club” a meeting of like-minded individuals to discuss their beliefs. He continued to host club meetings, write essays, and give speeches to promote transcendentalism. Some of his most important transcendentalist essays include “The Over-Soul,” “Self-Reliance,” “The American Scholar” and “Divinity School Address.”

Henry David Thoreau

The second-most important transcendentalist, Thoreau was a friend of Emerson’s who is best known for his book Walden. Walden is focused on the benefits of individualism, simple living and close contact with and observation of nature. Thoreau also frequently opposed the government and its actions, most notably in his essay “Civil Disobedience.”

Margaret Fuller

Margaret Fuller was perhaps the leading female transcendentalist. A well-known journalist and ardent supporter of women’s rights, she helped cofound The Dial, the key transcendentalist journal, with Emerson, which helped cement her place in the movement and spread the ideas of transcendentalism to a wider audience. An essay she wrote for the journal was later published as the book Woman in the Nineteenth Century, one of the earliest feminist works in the United States. She believed in  the importance of the individual, but often felt that other transcendentalists, namely Emerson, focused too much on individualism at the expense of social reform.

Romanticism vs Transcendentalism

The main difference between Romanticism and Transcendentalism is that Romanticism has not much emphasized God but when mentioned God is always known to be the external force. Whereas, Transcendentalism emphasized more on God and considers God as an internal light within the human body.

Romanticism was highly based on feelings, emotions, and introduced different emotions like anxiety, depression, etc. And hence Romanticism highlights patriotism, allegiance, and loyalties. Whereas, Transcendentalism highlights the power of nature, individualism, and divinity.

Romanticism emphasizes emotion and feelings over personal and intellectual growth whereas Transcendentalism emphasizes inspirations beyond human perspective, normal traditions, and reasoning.

Romanticism doesn't heavily emphasize God whereas Transcendentalism strongly emphasizes God, divinity, and believes in miracles.

Romanticism indicates positivity whereas Transcendentalism indicates both good and evil as a part of personal growth.

Romanticism was against outward appearances and objective reasoning and Transcendentalism was against religious traditions and dogmas appearances and objective reasoning and Transcendentalism was against religious traditions and dogmas.

Conclusion

Firstly, if we see both the terms: Romanticism and Transcendentalism it seems like they are the same. And they both were started in the same era of the late 18th century and worked roughly till mid-end of the 18th century itself.

Romanticism and Transcendentalism both are literary movements that took place in the 18th century.   In the majority of aspects, both Romanticism and Transcendentalism’s philosophies were similar. 

Both of them- Romanticism and Transcendentalism causes were quite similar. Both movements- Romanticism movements and Transcendentalism movements were the result of strict traditions, law, and religious rules of that time which only serve political and religious benefits and not the development of a human being and its inner self.

Both of them- Romanticism and Transcendentalism encouraged individuals to go on the journey of self-growth and finding inner light in the sense of god’s divinity and accept the fact that miracles do happen. Both of them motivated the journey of emotions like love, depression, anxiety, etc, and let that feel the human body.

Romanticism emphasized the god is internal light whereas transcendental emphasized that god’s the external force. Both of them taught to believe there is god, and God is the universe, and whatever you seek from the universe, you shall receive.

Romanticism and Transcendentalism are also taught to find the purpose of one’s living, to meditate and find that inner light and then conduct a selection out of two choices which are accepted good in life or evil in life.

 Though both of the ways were different to make people understand what is god, its nature, beliefs, universe, and emotions, the one thing which was for sure was the development of personal growth mentally and emotionally.

“Margaret Fuller.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/margaret-fuller.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Transcendentalism". Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Oct. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/event/Transcendentalism-American-movement. Accessed 9 May 2022.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopedia. "Henry David Thoreau". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Henry-David-Thoreau. Accessed 9 May 2022.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Ralph Waldo Emerson". Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ralph-Waldo-Emerson. Accessed 9 May 2022.