Transcendentalism: Origin, Definition, Features, Major Writers & Works

 

INTRODUCTION:

Transcendentalism is a religious, philosophical and literary movement that flourished in New England region of United States of America in 1930s and 1940s. Transcendentalism stressed on spirituality and emerged as a reaction against Unitarianism (a liberal Christian sect which emphasized on reason and intellect). It is a “New Light” in reaction to “Old Light”. The founding members of this movement were Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. It gained more popularity after the establishment of Transcendental Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1836.

WHAT IS TRANSCENDENTALISM?

Where is God? In the church? In the temple? No. Transcendentalists say God is within one’s own self and nature.

·      Transcendentalists believe that spirituality cannot be achieved through reason and rationalism, but instead through self-reflection and intuition.

·      They hold the view that spirituality isn’t something you can explain; it’s something you feel.

·      All humans are inherently good.

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

·      Religion is an artificial way of understanding God.

·      Spirituality comes from the self, from within.

·      Insight and experience are more important than logic.

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

THREE KEY FEATURES OF TRANSCENDENTALISM:

1.  Individualism:

Transcendentalists believe that every individual is basically pure. Church and other religious organization corrupt the individuals. If one wants to attain spiritual experience, if one wants to know himself and the meaning of his existence, he has to dive deep into himself without thinking too much about the Church and other modes.

2. Idealism:

Transcendentalists placed great importance on imagination, intuition and creativity. They opposed logic and reason. They strongly believed that logic and reason control and confine our knowledge to a certain limit. One has to seek for the ideals and ideals come from within; ideals are beyond logic.

3. Nature is Divine:

Transcendentalists rejected the divinity of the spiritual figures like Jesus. They considered Jesus as mortal. They saw nature as sacred and divine. They believed that it was important for humans to have a close relationship with nature. Transcendentalists saw nature as perfect; humans shouldn’t try to change or improve it. They insisted on the worship of nature. Nature is the Generator, Operator and Destroyer.

 MAJOR TRANSCENDENTALISTS:

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Immanuel Kant, Margaret Fuller, Amos Bronson Alcott, Frederic Henry Hedge, George Ripley

MAJOR TRANSCENDENTALIST WORKS:

1.   ‘Self-Reliance’ (1841) an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It discusses the importance of individuality.

2.   ‘The Summer Rain’ (1849) by Henry David Thoreau. It focuses on the beauty and simplicity of nature.

3.   ‘Leaves of Grass’ (1855) by Walt Whitman a collection of 12 poems. It speaks about the importance of individual spiritual experience and divinity of nature.

CONCLUSION:

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

In short, we may say that Transcendentalism was a mid 19^th century philosophical and literary movement which sought for truth in nature. They opined that insight, intuition and self experience are more important than logic and reason. According to them, spirituality comes from the self, not from organized religion, and nature is beautiful and should be respected.

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