Transcendentalism: An Analysis

Transcendentalism, a philosophy born from the stifling socio-cultural environment of the 1830s and the mind of a rather unique pastor, stands today as one of America’s first philosophical currents. It was a belief that echoed the dogma that the mind is the most powerful force in the world, and through its use, we as humans can comprehend the secrets of the universe. A somewhat bold claim. However, it was this very philosophy that laid the groundwork for the history of American philosophy, and the life of Ralph Waldo Emerson. A man who sought to embody such beliefs both in his life and in his writing.

To truly understand the core of what transcendentalism meant to Emerson we must explore his work. The first which shall be Nature, a lengthy essay that served as an unofficial statement of belief of the Transcendental Club. Emerson sets the stage with his prose. Descriptive and vivid, he describes the sheer beauty and tranquility of nature. In both how it, “wears the colors of the spirit,” and how, “a decorum and sanctity reign.”