Any philosophy based upon the doctrine that the principles of reality are to be discovered by the study of the

processes of thought, or a philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical. Definitions are slippery because the movement split enough that everyone had different ideas on the movement. Or, according to Urban Dictionary Quite possibly the most hypocritical and nonsensical idea ever conceived.

Transcendentalists believed that everything was spiritual. They were nature reformers. And as the name implies, they believed in closeness to nature. Much like the hippies of the 1970s, they believed society was inadequate and called people slave drivers of themselves Had an extreme dislike of the materialists of Harvard University

In a quote from Ralph Waldo Emersons The Transcendentalist, he said He [the idealist] does not deny the sensuous fact: by no means; but he will not see that alone. He does not deny the presence of this table, this chair, and the walls of this room, but he looks at these each being a sequel or completion of a spiritual fact which nearly concerns him. This manner of looking at things, transfers every object in nature from an independent and anomalous position without there, into the consciousness.

Maintains that ideas come from direct revelation from god and asserts that man has something besides the body of flesh with senses to perceive what is true. Called themselves the club of the like-minded, ironically they never agreed on anything. Invented antagonist who have characteristics that appeal to the sense of awe.

Originated in Germany, formed mostly by Immanuel Kant. In the United States it was adapted by Ralph Waldo Emerson. Other 19th century scholars did the same.

Considered the Father of American Transcendentalism. Wrote pieces such as The Transcendentalist and SelfReliance which laid out a framework for transcendental ideas in America. Is not only one of the most famous transcendental authors, but also an author read in schools to this very day.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has been accused of stealing his ideas for the American Transcendentalism from his Aunt. In her letters to him and journal entries, he directly quotes her, and she was the first person to coin the phrase Solitude, the safeguard of mediocrity, is, to genius, the stern friend, the cold, obscure shelter where molt the wings which bear it farther than suns and stars. Had a journal of letters from his aunt which he used as literature unaccredited to his aunt at all. She is the one who would be famous, but she refused to use proper grammar. (for instance, imagination may have been spelled imajanashon)

Henry David Thoreau- Wrote Walden and Civil Disobedience Sarah Margaret Fuller- Wrote Women in the 19th Century and Summer on the Lakes

The Scholars and philosophers in Harvard University were immediately skeptical of the movement and its spiritual implications The Dark Romanticism genre not only was critical of the transcendentalist movement, it openly mocked and despised it. Edgar Allen Poe went so far as to say them were metaphor-run and said their writing was mysticism for mysticism's sake.

An experimental utopian community founded on Transcendentalist principals. Attempted to combine artists in every field to create an intellectual atmosphere with financial security. A fire along with its poor financial stability insured its death in the next year.

Here is what it looked like

Ended as an organized movement in the 1840s after being split into two different idea groups. These groups feuded as to whether Transcendentalism focused on going deep inside ones self or learning about the spirit from others. This split the group so proficiently that the movement ended in an abrupt halt.

Things happening during this movement were the emancipation of the slaves in England, Gandhi was doing his protests in India, and the first dental surgery ever performed.

Emersons Transcendental Eye is used by animal rights activists and nature conservationists alike to signify our tie with nature. Transcendentalism started the movement of Dark Romanticism, not due to influence but out of hatred for them

One example of the Transcendental Eye

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