How Does Transcendentalism Affect Our Society

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Transcendentalism is the way in which people observe the world through a more naturalistic and philosophical viewpoint. Transcendentalists place emphasis on a spiritual connection to the world based on principles such as free thought, nonconformity, self-reliance, confidence, and the importance of nature as the gateways to individualism. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau were central transcendentalists who were influential in disseminating the concept of the influence our corrupt society has on the purity of the individual. Transcendentalism influenced the way people thought of the world and their own individuality in a society filled with conformists and where individualism was scorned upon. Our society is filled with people that struggle to fit in and conform to the majority. Many people are afraid to stand out for fear of being judged or laughed upon, but if more people embraced themselves and the transcendentalist notion of nonconformity, we might have a society of individuals rather than followers. People are fearful of being different and speaking their minds, but if they did, what would our …show more content…

The lack of confidence and self-reliance is clearly evident in our society today. People are afraid to sever their ties with individuals and their material possessions because they can’t imagine living without them. Transcendentalist ideas could really benefit our society by allowing people the capability and courage to express their opinions without being afraid of judgment. More people might accept themselves for who they are instead of looking at models and their peers wondering why they can’t be like them. With more self-reliance and confidence people will trust in themselves rather than others to help and support them. Contrarily, this notion is impossible to completely achieve because our society is built on the reliance of

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