Before we Begin ClassBefore we Begin Class

Please take out your journal entry Please take out your journal entry from yesterday over one of the from yesterday over one of the discussion questions regarding discussion questions regarding Thoreau and Transcendentalism. Be Thoreau and Transcendentalism. Be ready to discuss them. ready to discuss them.

TrascendentalismTrascendentalism, Emerson, and , Emerson, and

ThoreauThoreau

The history, ideas, and two The history, ideas, and two most prominent thinkers of a most prominent thinkers of a uniquely American movementuniquely American movement

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background Transcendentalist writers Transcendentalist writers

flourished in the 1830’s to flourished in the 1830’s to 1840’s, primarily in New England1840’s, primarily in New England

During the industrial revolution, During the industrial revolution, individuals felt unimportant individuals felt unimportant seeing how easily they could be seeing how easily they could be replaced by a machine along with replaced by a machine along with the downplay of an individual’s the downplay of an individual’s importance by the church.importance by the church.

Ralph Waldon Emerson, a pastor Ralph Waldon Emerson, a pastor at the time, thought otherwise. at the time, thought otherwise. He gave credit to the power of He gave credit to the power of the human mind, thinking the human mind, thinking individuals are the ones that individuals are the ones that influenced society, not politics, influenced society, not politics, religions or organizations. religions or organizations.

Historical Background, Historical Background, continuedcontinued

Many Transcendentalist were strong Many Transcendentalist were strong abolitionists and opposed the American Civil abolitionists and opposed the American Civil War. Henry Thoreau, in protest of war and War. Henry Thoreau, in protest of war and slavery, wrote slavery, wrote Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience and and refused to pay taxes. He was imprisoned for refused to pay taxes. He was imprisoned for not paying taxes an went to jail for a day.not paying taxes an went to jail for a day.

This display of nonviolent protest inspired This display of nonviolent protest inspired many throughout history including Martian many throughout history including Martian Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

Philosophical Philosophical BackgroundBackground •As thinkers, mankind have always divided into two sects,

Materialists and Idealists;

•In philosophy, the theory of materialism holds that the only thing that exists is matter; that all things are composed of material and all phenomena (including consciousness) are the result of material interactions. In other words, matter is the only substance.

•Any philosophy that places importance on the ideal or spiritual realm in its account of human existence may be termed "idealist". Metaphysical idealism is an ontology that holds that reality itself is essentially spirit or consciousness or, at least, that abstractions and laws are more basic to reality than the things we perceive. Epistemological idealism is the view that reality can only be known through ideas, that only psychological experience can be apprehended by the mind.

Intuition as a Guide PostIntuition as a Guide Post

The intuitive faculty, instead of the The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensual, became the rational or sensual, became the means for a conscious union of the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as as AtmanAtman) with the world psyche ) with the world psyche also known as the “Oversoul,” life-also known as the “Oversoul,” life-force, “prime mover” and God force, “prime mover” and God (known in Sanskrit as (known in Sanskrit as BrahmaBrahma).).

Inspiration of Inspiration of transcendental philosophytranscendental philosophy

The ideas for this philosophy come from the Greeks The ideas for this philosophy come from the Greeks (Plato)(Plato)

WritersWriters Dante, Shakespeare, MiltonDante, Shakespeare, MiltonWorld religionsWorld religions Hindus, ChristiansHindus, ChristiansEuropean philosophersEuropean philosophers Kant (German)-understanding through intuition Kant (German)-understanding through intuition Pascal (French)-mathematician/moralistPascal (French)-mathematician/moralist Swedenborg (Swedish)-scientist/mysticSwedenborg (Swedish)-scientist/mysticEuropean Romantic literature—stressed the break European Romantic literature—stressed the break

away from rationality in favor of the emotional away from rationality in favor of the emotional components of life; truth is found in subjective components of life; truth is found in subjective experienceexperience

Transcendental BeliefsTranscendental Beliefs A Universal Soul or Energy (Oversoul)A Universal Soul or Energy (Oversoul) Essential Goodness of People Essential Goodness of People Corrupting nature of societyCorrupting nature of society Perfectionism and OptimismPerfectionism and Optimism Symbolic aspects of nature: nature is a Symbolic aspects of nature: nature is a

reflection of our inner livesreflection of our inner lives Transcendentalist derives from "transcend“, Transcendentalist derives from "transcend“,

to rise. Meaning to rise above the primitive to rise. Meaning to rise above the primitive animalistic impulses of life and move from the animalistic impulses of life and move from the normal, rational thinking to a spiritual realm.normal, rational thinking to a spiritual realm.

Meaning and value are not external, but Meaning and value are not external, but reside in consciousness reside in consciousness

Individual virtue and happiness dependIndividual virtue and happiness depend

upon self-realization—this depends upon theupon self-realization—this depends upon the

reconciliation of two universal psychologicalreconciliation of two universal psychological

tendencies: tendencies:

1.1. The desire to embrace the whole world—to The desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world. know and become one with the world.

2.2. The desire to withdraw, remain unique and The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence. separate—an egotistical existence.

Transcendentalism in Transcendentalism in AmericaAmerica

““From 1840-1855, literature in American From 1840-1855, literature in American experienced a rebirth call the New England experienced a rebirth call the New England Renaissance. Through their poetry, short Renaissance. Through their poetry, short stories, novels, and other works, writers stories, novels, and other works, writers during this period established a clear during this period established a clear American voice. No longer did they see American voice. No longer did they see their work as less influential then that of their work as less influential then that of European authors. Transcendentalism was European authors. Transcendentalism was part of this ‘flowering’ of American part of this ‘flowering’ of American literature” (Webster, 3).literature” (Webster, 3).

The ideals of American The ideals of American democracy is a democracy is a cornerstone of cornerstone of transcendentalism, which transcendentalism, which is tied in to the idea of is tied in to the idea of American individuality.American individuality.

Transcendentalists Transcendentalists question rules and laws question rules and laws presented to them, presented to them, attempting to change the attempting to change the ones that they believe are ones that they believe are unjust, including the unjust, including the validity of slavery.validity of slavery.

Ralph Waldo EmersonRalph Waldo Emerson 1803-18821803-1882 Unitarian ministerUnitarian minister Poet and essayistPoet and essayist Founded the Founded the

Transcendental ClubTranscendental Club Popular lecturerPopular lecturer Banned from Harvard for Banned from Harvard for

40 years following his 40 years following his Divinity School addressDivinity School address

Supporter of abolitionismSupporter of abolitionism Founded Founded The Dial, The Dial, the key the key

transcendentalist transcendentalist publication of the daypublication of the day

Emerson’s Major Ideas Emerson’s Major Ideas

Emerson was the founder of the Emerson was the founder of the American transcendental movement, American transcendental movement, and its chief intellectual sourceand its chief intellectual source

““Transparent Eyeball” (Refers to the Transparent Eyeball” (Refers to the idea that one must empty oneself of idea that one must empty oneself of previous ideas and experiences in previous ideas and experiences in order to “see” the proper nature of the order to “see” the proper nature of the universe.(universe.(NatureNature, 1836), 1836)

Demand for original American thought Demand for original American thought and art. (and art. (The American ScholarThe American Scholar, 1837), 1837)

Emerson’s Ideas Cont.Emerson’s Ideas Cont. Rejection of traditional values and ideas, in favor Rejection of traditional values and ideas, in favor

of one’s own empirical knowledge about the of one’s own empirical knowledge about the world. This includes religious beliefs. (world. This includes religious beliefs. (Self-Self-Reliance, The Divinity School Address)Reliance, The Divinity School Address)

Radical independence and originality—goal was to Radical independence and originality—goal was to restore vigor and unique nature of the American restore vigor and unique nature of the American

Wanted to inspire a unique American intellectual Wanted to inspire a unique American intellectual and literary identity—come out from the shadow and literary identity—come out from the shadow of Europe of Europe America not yet a global superpower, thus owed America not yet a global superpower, thus owed

much of culture to European forbearsmuch of culture to European forbears

Emerson’s project culminates in a sense in Emerson’s project culminates in a sense in Whitman’s poetry as well as a sort of poetry Whitman’s poetry as well as a sort of poetry native to America, originated by Americansnative to America, originated by Americans

Henry David ThoreauHenry David Thoreau1817 - 18621817 - 1862

If Ralph Waldo If Ralph Waldo Emerson was the Emerson was the philosopher of philosopher of Transcendentalism, Transcendentalism, Thoreau was its most Thoreau was its most devoted practitioner.devoted practitioner.

While Emerson wrote While Emerson wrote and lectured about and lectured about Transcendentalism, Transcendentalism, Thoreau tried to live Thoreau tried to live as a as a transcendentalist.transcendentalist.

Early EducationEarly Education Unlike Emerson, Unlike Emerson,

grew up in a middle grew up in a middle class family. The class family. The family’s financial family’s financial circumstances circumstances changed often. changed often.

Attended Harvard Attended Harvard and graduated in and graduated in 1837.1837.

Early CareerEarly Career Worked as school Worked as school

teacher.teacher. Contracted Contracted

Tuberculosis, a Tuberculosis, a disease he fought disease he fought all his life.all his life.

Had a short stint Had a short stint working in his working in his father’s pencil father’s pencil factory.factory.

The Lecturer and RebelThe Lecturer and Rebel As an independent As an independent

thinker, Thoreau became thinker, Thoreau became the head of the Concord the head of the Concord Lyceum organizing Lyceum organizing lectures where he met lectures where he met Ralph Waldo Emerson.Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Thoreau eventually Thoreau eventually worked as a handyman worked as a handyman and caretaker of and caretaker of Emerson’s estate while Emerson’s estate while Emerson spent long Emerson spent long stints studying abroad in stints studying abroad in Europe.Europe.

The Walden ExperimentThe Walden Experiment From 1841 – 1843 From 1841 – 1843

Thoreau decided Thoreau decided to conduct an to conduct an experiment of self-experiment of self-sufficiency by sufficiency by building his own building his own house on the house on the shores of Walden shores of Walden Pond and living off Pond and living off the food he grew the food he grew on his farm.on his farm.

Fact from FictionFact from Fiction While reading excerpts of While reading excerpts of

WaldenWalden it may seem it may seem Thoreau wrote his novel as Thoreau wrote his novel as a diary while being isolated a diary while being isolated in the woods, miles from in the woods, miles from civilization.civilization.

However…However… Thoreau often went to Thoreau often went to

Concord to buy supplies.Concord to buy supplies. He wrote thirteen drafts of He wrote thirteen drafts of

Walden Walden before publishing before publishing it.it.

He often had friends visit He often had friends visit him in the evenings.him in the evenings.

He house was built on He house was built on Emerson’s property.Emerson’s property.

Civil DisobedienceCivil Disobedience Another work that was a Another work that was a

result of Thoreau’s Walden result of Thoreau’s Walden Experiment was his essay Experiment was his essay Civil Disobedience. Civil Disobedience.

Thoreau wrote the essay Thoreau wrote the essay while spending the night in while spending the night in jail after refusing to pay a jail after refusing to pay a tax that would help fund tax that would help fund slavery in the South.slavery in the South.

Civil Disobedience Civil Disobedience has has been a highly influential been a highly influential work that has inspired work that has inspired peaceful activists such as peaceful activists such as Ghandi and Martin Luther Ghandi and Martin Luther King Jr.King Jr.

Famous Quote: “If... the Famous Quote: “If... the machine of government... machine of government... is of such a nature that it is of such a nature that it requires you to be the requires you to be the agent of injustice to agent of injustice to another, then, I say, break another, then, I say, break the law.” the law.”

Thoreau’s Late Life and Thoreau’s Late Life and DeathDeath

Though Thoreau never Though Thoreau never made a substantial living made a substantial living as a writer, his collection as a writer, his collection of writing consist of over of writing consist of over twenty volumes.twenty volumes.

Thoreau’s only trip abroad Thoreau’s only trip abroad was to Canada in 1861 was to Canada in 1861 where he had another where he had another lapse of Tuberculosis. lapse of Tuberculosis.

On May 6th, 1862 Thoreau On May 6th, 1862 Thoreau died losing his fight to the died losing his fight to the disease.disease.

Emerson later published a Emerson later published a collection of Thoreau’s collection of Thoreau’s poems in 1865.poems in 1865.