Also called transcendental philosophy, 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: in the U.S., associated with Emerson.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/transcendentalism)
Transcendentalism was one of the most influential and powerful philosophical movements in the history of the young US. It was espoused by many this country's great movers and shakers, like Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman, and more. Like its inspiration Romanticism, Transcendentalism was a counter-movement against the logic and empiricism of the Enlightenment, emphasizing heart over mind with an American twist. But most of all, it gave future generations like ours beautiful treasures like "Self Reliance", "Walden", and others, beauties that classes and scholars alike continue to read today.
Even if this movement is nearly two hundred years old and lays dormant at best, its tenants are needed now more than ever before. People all over not just the US but the world have become heavily preoccupied with work and making fortunes, all at the expense of family, society, and tradition. We blindly follow parties and groups when discussing the big issues of the day, and these parties in turn stoop to pandering to the lowest common denominator to gain more support. True, one shouldn't just refuse modernity and stare stubbornly towards the past, and one shouldn't refuse to work with others to achieve a similar goal; that would lead to even worse problems. But one always needs to promote a balance in thinking, keeping one foot perched forward and the other grounded in morals, culture, and etiquette. Transcendentalism as a philosophy and a way of life just might be the cure that we as a society need.
"... the doctrine that the principles of reality are to be discovered by the study of the processes of thought"
Much of Transcendentalist thought may be considered by society today as "mystical" or "abstract". Indeed, many writers, like Emerson, emphasized religion and divinity in their works, while others like Thoreau actually wrote works away from society in cabins like a secluded monk. The Transcendentalists liked to pry deep into what humanity actually did, and then proceed to describe what humanity should do, very much like sociologists, psychologists, and philosophers do today. "Reality" was never what it showed itself to be; it was filled with layer upon layer of secrets and deceptions waiting to be uncovered. Only by "transcending" the mundane world of materialism and complication could one hope to discover the truth; only by "Simplifying, simplifying, simplifying" could one feel happy and content.
"... a philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical"
But if transcending was the door to discovering the mysteries of the universe and obtaining joy, rejecting facts, custom, and dogmas was its key. The Transcendentalists expressly showed disdain for being a follower, always emphasizing man's dignity, self-worth, and individuality, and berating those who refused to exercise this and become slaves to ideology. They believed in the power of feeling and emotion over the "cold logic" of the Enlightenment, always equating them with divinity and nature. Even their style of writing expresses this; their writing was very flowery, poetic, elaborate, and ornate, more often than not ambiguous and hard to decipher. After all, if life was a maze, so was to be their writing; long, winding, but always leading to one final point.
Many people today might find Transcendentalism to be a philosophy of the elite, too fancy and confusing in an age where we applaud logic, science, reason, and human progress. Such things are to be admired and enjoyed, for without them humanity would be condemned to stagnation and unoriginality. But we must make sure that we aren't consumed by these principles; in our quest to become greater and smarter, we mustn't shove our humanity aside as a sacrifice. We must retain true to morals and higher laws, laws that still allow us to be ingenuous while protecting us from our own demons. I believe that Transcendentalism may be the key to such a goal. When Thoreau talked about reading newspapers in "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For", he didn't say don't read newspapers, but rather don't read them excessively. When he talked about railroads, he warned us about not letting them "ride on our backs" rather than saying we should destroy them all in one stroke. Life is filled with opportunities and bountiful treasures, but in our sojourns to find and take them, we mustn't stoop to the level of beasts and demons. We must always remember to preserve our innate goodness and stay true to our humanity, lest we suffer the consequences.
The End
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