Literature: The Impact Of Transcendentalism And Its Impact On Society

Transcendentalism was a new way of thinking which struck the world in the 1830s to the 1860s. It was a philosophical movement promoting self-reliance, free thought, and a connection to nature. Principles of Transcendentalism are still being used and applied today around the world, blending into everyday lives, and changing the growth of society. The development of Transcendentalism has made a profound impact in society today, and it will continue to influence the way people think and do.
Transcendentalism changed literature in America as a whole. Transcendentalist writers such as Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson shifted literature to focus on the United States. The new literature highlighted imagination and contribution. Furthermore,

the new literature included themes of self-reliance, spirituality, and social injustice. It provided the verve for the Americans to speak up for individual beliefs. For example, the principles of nonconformity and free thought in transcendentalism spurred numerous social reform leaders in the fight for women’s rights, public schools, and humane prisons. Furthermore, Transcendentalism acted as a counter-movement to the ideas of the Enlightenment, as it placed emotion over mind (Enlightenment ideas promoted logic and observation). All in all, Transcendentalist principles included different priorities and different themes.
The overall themes of Transcendentalism may seem very outdated, as logic, reason, and science dominate society today. As society is becoming more and more competitive, the principles of self-reliance and confidence may be extremely vital to one’s success in this age.
In addition, living simple, a major theme in Transcendentalism is aiding people of discovering and understanding themselves and the universe. Moreover, the transcendentalist idea of building upon previous work can clearly be seen today, as companies in every department around the world are constantly planning for the future, and using information or data from the past. This doctrine guarantees the eventual formation of the “paradise” or “perfect society,” which is impossible to achieve, but provides something to work towards. Overall, Transcendentalist values have changed the way people work independently and the manner people conduct themselves in.
Today, transcendentalist principles can be seen in the “green” or “nature” movements held today. In this age, the harm society can set on nature can easily be noticed, which is why a sundry amount of people have participated in environmental activities, such as recycling and using renewable energy. Awareness of resources is a critical point of Transcendentalism, as natural resources are considered extremely sacred. More sophisticated principles, such as the human divine spirit (human soul existing as a part of nature) are typically not seen, however, most virtues of conservation and care towards nature are embraced today. For example, numerous establishments made for conserving resources such as fish, topsoil, wildlife, and topsoil have been used to lessen the great impact people have put on the environment. These environmental undertakings have a strong connection with the importance of nature in Transcendentalism. Most people do not shadow the Transcendentalist principles of education, however, as most individuals would prefer a conventional approach to learning, using and simple paper-and-pencil and textbooks, rather than the hands-on teaching devices such as having kids repairing a yacht or having kids go outdoors to construct tools. Most have stepped away from this educational practice however. In short, the Transcendentalist principles have affected and changed the events people may or may not partake in, and it will continue to influence people’s decisions on education and the environment.
Transcendentalism is justifiably a prominent ideology that affects both the individual and society. The system is unique in broadness, as it covers areas of politics, education, and the environment. The core principles of Transcendentalism, whether people realize it or ignore it, affect society today indirectly and directly.