山东农业大学：《英美文学史》课程教学资源（PPT讲稿）Unit 12 Nineteenth Century to 1865 and American Transcendentalism

Unit 12 Nineteenth Century to 1865 and American transcendentalism Note: Nineteenth Century American Transcendentalism is not a religion (in the traditional sense of the word); it is a pragmatic philosophy, a state of mind and a form of spirituality. It is not a religion because it does not adhere to the three concepts common in major religions: aa belief in a God b. a belief in an afterlife(dualism)i and C. a belief that this life has consequences on the next (if you're good in this life, you go to heaven in the next, etc.). Transcendentalism is monist, it does not reject an afterlife but its emphasis is on this life

Unit 12 Nineteenth Century to 1865 and American Transcendentalism ◼ Note: Nineteenth Century American Transcendentalism is not a religion (in the traditional sense of the word); it is a pragmatic philosophy, a state of mind, and a form of spirituality. It is not a religion because it does not adhere to the three concepts common in major religions: a. a belief in a God; b. a belief in an afterlife (dualism); and c. a belief that this life has consequences on the next (if you're good in this life, you go to heaven in the next, etc.). Transcendentalism is monist; it does not reject an afterlife, but its emphasis is on this life

Central Points of Agreement. NOTE: The Transcendentalists. in keeping with the individualistic nature of this philosophy disagreed readily with each other. Here are four points of general agreement

Central Points of Agreement: ◼ NOTE : The Transcendentalists, in keeping with the individualistic nature of this philosophy, disagreed readily with each other. Here are four points of general agreement:

■ Basic Assumption The intuitive faculty instead of the ational or sensical became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the Oversoul, life-force, prime mover and god ( known in Sanskrit as Brahma)

◼ Basic Assumption: ◼ The intuitive faculty, instead of the rational or sensical, became the means for a conscious union of the individual psyche (known in Sanskrit as Atman) with the world psyche also known as the Oversoul, life-force, prime mover and God (known in Sanskrit as Brahma)

Basic premises: 1. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe- and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual 2 The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self -all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum know thyself

Basic Premises: ◼ 1. An individual is the spiritual center of the universe - and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual. ◼ 2. The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self - all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself

a 3. Transcendentalists accepted the neo-Platonic conception of nature as a living mystery full of signs nature is symbolic 4 The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self realization -this depends upon the reconciliation of two universa psychological tendencies

◼ 3. Transcendentalists accepted the neo-Platonic conception of nature as a living mystery, full of signs - nature is symbolic. ◼ 4. The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self￾realization - this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies:

aa. the expansive or self-transcending tendency -a desire to embrace the whole world to know and become one with the world b the contracting or self-asserting tendency -the desire to withdraw remain unique and separate-an egotistical existence

◼ a. the expansive or self-transcending tendency - a desire to embrace the whole world - to know and become one with the world. ◼ b. the contracting or self-asserting tendency - the desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate - an egotistical existence

Basic tenets of american Transcendentalism 1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism 2. The transcendentalist transcends or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. 3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or" float for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death 4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God) 5 This oversoul or life force or god can be found everywhere- travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary. 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature(Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations)

Basic Tenets of American Transcendentalism: ◼ 1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism. ◼ 2. The transcendentalist "transcends" or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. ◼ 3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or "float" for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death. ◼ 4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God). ◼ 5. This Oversoul or Life Force or God can be found everywhere - travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary. 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature (Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations)

7. Jesus also had part of God in himself- he was divine as everyone is divine -except in that he lived an exemplary and transcendental life and made the best use of that power which is within each one 8.Miracle is monster. The miracles of the bible are not to be regarded as important as they were to the people of the past. Miracles are all about us the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one." A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels.-Whitman 9. More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life -the one thing in the world of value is the active soul- Emerson 10. Death is never to be feared for at death the soul merely passes to the oversoul

◼ 7. Jesus also had part of God in himself - he was divine as everyone is divine - except in that he lived an exemplary and transcendental life and made the best use of that Power which is within each one. ◼ 8. "Miracle is monster." The miracles of the Bible are not to be regarded as important as they were to the people of the past. Miracles are all about us - the whole world is a miracle and the smallest creature is one. "A mouse is a miracle enough to stagger quintillions of infidels." - Whitman ◼ 9. More important than a concern about the afterlife, should be a concern for this life - "the one thing in the world of value is the active soul." - Emerson ◼ 10. Death is never to be feared, for at death the soul merely passes to the oversoul

11. Emphasis should be placed on the here and now,Give me one world at a time.- thoreau 12. Evil is a negative- merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark. 13. Power is to be obtained by defying fate or predestination, which seem to work against humans by exercising one's own spiritual and moral strength. Emphasis on self-reliance. 14. Hence, the emphasis is placed on a human thinking. 15. The transcendentalists see the necessity of examples of great leaders, writers, philosophers, and others to show what an individual can become through thinking and action

◼ 11. Emphasis should be placed on the here and now. "Give me one world at a time." - Thoreau ◼ 12. Evil is a negative - merely an absence of good. Light is more powerful than darkness because one ray of light penetrates the dark. ◼ 13. Power is to be obtained by defying fate or predestination, which seem to work against humans, by exercising one's own spiritual and moral strength. Emphasis on self-reliance. ◼ 14. Hence, the emphasis is placed on a human thinking. ◼ 15. The transcendentalists see the necessity of examples of great leaders, writers, philosophers, and others, to show what an individual can become through thinking and action

16. It is foolish to worry about consistency, because what an intelligent person believes tomorrow, if he/she trusts oneself, tomorrow may be completely different from what that person thinks and believes today."A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Emerson a 17. The unity of life and universe must be realized. There is a relationship between all things 18. One must have faith in intuition for no church or creed can communicate truth 19. Reform must not be emphasized true reform comes from within

◼ 16. It is foolish to worry about consistency, because what an intelligent person believes tomorrow, if he/she trusts oneself, tomorrow may be completely different from what that person thinks and believes today. "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." - Emerson ◼ 17. The unity of life and universe must be realized. There is a relationship between all things. ◼ 18. One must have faith in intuition, for no church or creed can communicate truth. ◼ 19. Reform must not be emphasized - true reform comes from within