Transcendentalism

What were the "Self Reliance" principles

1. Determine the truths for yourself- only accept theose traditions which appear to be true; reject the rest. 2. Know thy self- Become a person of principle and then live by those principles, even if the majority of society doesn't agree 3. Be yourself- Exercise the self-discipline necessary to study oneself in rlation to nature

How did Transcendentalists view the world?

1. Everything in the world, including human beings, is a reflection of the divine soul 2. The physical facts of the natural world are a doorway to the spiritual or ideal world 3. People can use their intuition to behold God's spirit revealed in nature or in their own souls 4. Spontaneous feeling and intuition are superior to deliberate intellectualism and rationality

What were the "Walden" Principles?

1. God is in man and in all living things 2. Contemption of Divine nature and nature- It is best to live as close to nature as possible, for there a person can most successfully contemplate his/her reason for being 3. Time and personal Growth- Work (for money) only enough to fufill basic needs. Dedicate the rest of your life to personal growth

What did they believe spiritually

1. Personal belief and meditation was valued over organized worship and services 2. No meditation, such as a priest or minister, was necessary for a person o experience a connection with the divine 3. They contended that there is a spark of the divine in all human beings, and that if we understand ourselves and are true to ourselves, then we are also true to God

What were transcendentalists philosophy?

1. They believed there was an inherent connection between all living elements and human beings. 2. They believe that through the attachment of knowledge, human beings could transcend the limitations of the physical senses and attain spiritual awareness and enlightenment 3. They believed that this knowledge resided with an individual and could be accessed through meditation, self awareness and communing with nature

Aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.

Who was David Thoreau

American writer. A seminal figure in the history of American thought, he spent much of his life in Concord, Massachusetts, where he became associated with the New England transcendentalists and lived for two years and two months on the shore of Walden Pond (1845-1847). His works include "Civil Disobedience" (1849) and Walden (1854).

What is Imagery?

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

What were principles of "Civil Disobedience"

Have the courage to practice some form of non-violent protest, if a law violates your principle even if you must suffer the consequences

Who was Ralph Waldo Emerson?

He was an American transcendentalist who was against slavery and stressed self-reliance, optimism, self-improvement, self-confidence, and freedom. He was a prime example of a transcendentalist and helped further the movement.

Where did Thoreu write this essay

He wrote this essay while jailed for refusing to pay taxes that funded a war he didn't believe in

What was the Walden Pond?

Henry David Thoreau lived on its shore for 2 years in a cabin that he built. It is were he meditated on nature and truth.

Who wrote "Civil Disobedience" and "Walden"

Henry David Thoreu

What were the three parts of the transcendentalism movement?

Philosophy, Spiritual, and Literary

Who wrote "Nature"

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Who was Emmanuel Kant

The last great Enlightenment philosopher, Kant (1724 - 1804) defined the Enlightenment as an era with the slogan Sapere aude (English: Dare to Know). In Critique of Pure Reason Kant tried to answer the questions "What do we know?" and "How come?" He influenced the Transcendentalists.

What is Transcendentalism?

Transcendentalism was a philosophical, spiritual, and literary movement that flourished in the United States in the decades before the Civil War: The Antebellum Period.

What were Transcendentalists trying to do?

Transcendentalists, Like their fictional counterparts, the Romantics, were trying to forge a distinctly American literature and philosophy that valued the power of the individual.

What was "Self Reliance"

an essay written by Ralph Waldo Emerson, emphasizing the importance of the individual

What is a non-conformist

someone who refuses to adhere to established standards of conduct or cultural norms