Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism
transcendentalism
tran(t)senden(t)lizm/
noun

1. an idealistic philosophical and social movement that developed in New England

around 1836 in reaction to rationalism. Influenced by romanticism, Platonism, and
Kantian philosophy, it taught that divinity pervades all nature and humanity, and
its members held progressive views on feminism and communal living. Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were central figures.

2. a system developed by Immanuel Kant, based on the idea that, in order to

understand the nature of reality, one must first examine and analyze the
reasoning process that governs the nature of experience.
Quote #1 (Self-reliance)
Continued
There is a time in every man's education when he arrives at the conviction that envy is
ignorance; that imitation is suicide; that he must take himself for better for worse as his portion;
that though the wide universe is full of good, no kernel of nourishing corn can come to him but
through his toil bestowed on that plot of ground which is given to him to till. The power which
resides in him is new in nature, and none but he knows what that is which he can do, nor does
he know until he has tried. Not for nothing one face, one character, one fact makes much
impression on him, and another none. This sculpture in the memory is not without
prestablishcd harmony. The eye was placed where one ray should fall, that it might testify of
that particular ray. We but half express ourselves, and are ashamed of that divine idea which
each of us represents. It may be safely trusted as proportionate and of good issues, so it be
faithfully imparted, but God will not have his work made manifest by cowards. A man is relieved
and gay when he has put his heart into his work and done his best; but what he has said or
done otherwise shall give hint no peace. It is a deliverance which does not deliver. In the
attempt his genius deserts him; no muse befriends; no invention, no hope.

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

Self Explanation:
This quote makes me think that man has many things that happen through his/her life. There
is greed, envy, ignorance, etc. that cause these hardships throughout the day and when we
try to express ourselves there is a hesitation. Man cant come to terms with ourselves, but
when there is work behind this effort, its pride that becomes of that human. Technology and
the everyday life cant compare to handmade objects and ideas that can come from one and
it gives a feeling like no other. Emerson reveals this through this quote trying to give others
an understandings of what transcendentalism feels like.
Quote #2
Most of the luxuries and many of the so-called comforts of life are not only not indispensable,
but positive hindrances to the elevation of mankind.
- Henry David Thoreau; Walden

This quote talks about how mankind had made these

Response: hindrances that keep us from really connecting with each other
because we are so focused on these luxuries. Facebook for
instance; we all sit in a room together, but most of us have our
phones out laughing at the same things, but not connecting
with one another on a different level. These comforts in life
are something we cant get rid of because we are all so far into
the technological ways of the world, so Thoreau wants to make
it a point to break free from these hindrances and experience
the elevation of our society in a positive way through
transcendentalism.
Quote #3
Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth.

- Henry David Thoreau

The truth of understanding whats going on or behind

Response: everything else in the world is much better then all of these
luxuries. Money, fame, fortune, even love is all worthless
without the truth of it all. Its a small quote that makes a big
impact against all what we live for in our everyday lives. It
definitely shows what should be the importance in our lives,
and what we should put first.
 Quote #4
Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.

-Henry David Thoreau

We all make mistakes in our daily lives with all of the

Response: decisions at hand. Like Meet The Robinsons always said,
Keep moving forward. Even with all of the positivity we
see, there is also the negative that we encounter, its with
those negative setbacks that really cause a human to step
back and look deep inside oneself and really focus on who
they are in those tough moments. Its something that needs
to happen to understand ourselves in times of great grief.
Its self reliance that one goes through that connects with
the transcendentalistic side.
Lyric #1: Keep Ya Head Up, by Tupac
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one So will the real men get up I
know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

[Chorus]

Keep ya head up, ooh child things are gonna get easier ooh child things are gonna get brighter
[2x]

What this song is trying to cover is the fact that women are held at
Response: a lower standard in some mens eyes. Of course even history proves
this theory. Transcendentalism gives a person inner strength with
oneself, so basically Tupac is getting the point across of how this
could be done by keeping their heads up. This can relate to the
self-reliance side of things for the women. Once they realize their
worth it's so much easier on themselves and they wouldnt have to
question their existence.
Lyric #2: Paradise, by Coldplay
Life goes on It gets so heavy The wheel breaks the butterfly Every tear, a waterfall In the night,
the stormy night She closed her eyes In the night, the stormy night Away she'd fly.

And dreamed of para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Para- para- paradise Whoa-oh-oh
oh-oooh oh-oh-oh

This song also can relate to self-realization. Most of these lyrics do

Response: refer back to self-reliance and how things could get better by
staying positive in our everyday lives through the struggles that
may be encountered. Coldplay is describing this woman who has
basically lost her way, but even through these hardships she's
facing when she dreams she flies away from these real world
problems and thats when she becomes her strongest mentally and
physically. She has found her safe zone.
Lyric #3: Its Time, by Imagine Dragons
It's time to begin, isn't it? I get a little bit bigger but then I'll admit I'm just the same as I was Now
don't you understand? I'm never changing who I am

Like I said, theres a lot of self-reliance. Everyone in these lyrics

Response: decide to depend on themselves for the support needed to go on or
push through, or in this song's case, tell the world they are who they
ar, There is no use in changing something thats already perfect in
their eyes. They accept themselves. Society tries to change
everything daily, but it;s those who take a stand and say they dont
need to be changed and with everything going on. They still wont
budge. The world changes around us everyday, but that doesn't
mean we have to.
Lyric #4: Beautiful Day, by U2
In return for grace It's a beautiful day Sky falls, you feel like It's a beautiful day Don't let it
get away You're on the road But you've got no destination You're in the mud In the maze
of her imagination

This relates to transcendentalism in the same format as the

Response: last song in some ways. Basically the world is changing, but
so are you. It;s beautiful to be on the road to a destination,
but you find that its not leading anywhere. Its not leading
anywhere because youre in the dream of this one girl, So
three must be a guy thats giving up his dreams for her. This
links to transcendentalism because its a freedom of choice
and how life would be easier to gain self-reliance and not
depend on the decisions of others.
Lyric #5: Come Sail Away, by Styx
I'm sailing away, Set an open course for the virgin sea, 'Cause I've got to be free, Free to
face the life that's ahead of me, On board, I'm the captain, so climb aboard, We'll search
for tomorrow on every shore, And I'll try, Oh Lord I'll try, to carry on

This could link to transcendentalism by saying hes breaking

Response: away from the real world and societys correct appearance of
ways of living. This is another self-reliance, He understand
what freedom will bring without the technologies and worries
of the worlds definition of what is supposed to be happening.
He will make and decide his own fate and destiny and putting
everything he has into Gods hands. Styx also encourages
others to join by saying, Im the captain, so climb aboard. He
trusts himself to also guide others to the right path through
God.
Lyric #6: Get Up, Stand Up, by Bob Marley
Most people think, Great god will come from the skies, Take away everything And make
everybody feel high. But if you know what life is worth, You will look for yours on earth: And now
you see the light, You stand up for your rights. jah!

Bob Marley is trying to get people to understand that we cant just si

Response: around and wait for greatness to come and hit us in the face like a
brick. We cant just stay on earth and wait to die or treat our life as
something worthless. God cant make all of the decisions. If you
were smart, You would get up and stand up for the rights of the
people and how we should be free of the stereotypes and make our
own destiny. Youll see the light once it makes sense, but until then,
fight and make life worth living for your freedoms.
Lyric #7: The Show Goes On, by Lupe Fiasco
Five in the air for the teachers not scared To tell those kids that's livin' in the ghetto That the
people holding' back that the world is theirs Yeah, the world is yours, I was once that little boy
Terrified of the world, now I'm on a world tour I will give up everything even start a world war For
these ghetto girls and boys, I'm rappin' 'round the world for Africa to New York, Haiti, then I detour
Oakland out to Auckland, Gaza Strip to Detroit Say hip hop only destroy, tell 'em look at me, boy I
hope your son don't have a gun and never be a D-boy Alright, already, the show goes on

Basically what Lupe is saying is that he never gave up and kept

Response: pushing through lifes bullets and hardships that were thrown at him.
Even in the ghetto dreams can come true if you put your mind to
something. People say rapping and hip hop destroy, but its all how
you look at it because some songs can speak to those only wanting to
accept its wisdom within the lyrics. The show goes on everyday and
it's up to you to decided to keep trying harder or give u that freedom
that could be your one day and so its breaking free from society
making this like transcendentalism.
The End