Romanticism Vs Transcendentalism Essay

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Bahareh Maneshi
American Philosophy
Exam 1


American Transcendentalism and Romanticism
Transcendentalism believes that the world and God are one and connected. It is a belief that the soul of each person is connected to the world through time and space and therefore it is connected to God.
Transcendentalists believe in replacing specifics for impressions and ideas. They did not see the world as an independent authority that is detached and disconnected from us instead they saw it as a presentation of ideas connected and united with each individual through time and space. Much like romanticism, they focused on emotional and spiritual connection of nature and human soul .They believed that we should focus on honesty and truth and enjoy the good. Furthermore, transcendentalism believed in beauty of the world and discussing …show more content…

He tried to bring the impact of beauty further than the passing fascination and the brief awe moment he encountered. “We behold unveiled the nature of Justice and Truth” (Nature 58) Emerson suggests that nature is beautiful because of it gives us joy. Nature works together with the soul to improve the goodness of truth and morality in our deeds Emerson argues the ability of nature’s beauty to encourage our intelligence, which brings him to the conclusion that nature is the connection that unites the world.
He believed that everything is beautiful because of the role they play in the world. “Nothing divine dies. All good is eventually reproductive. The beauty of nature reforms itself in the mind, and not for barren contemplation, but for new creation (Nature, Section Beauty). Emerson believed that nature is a united structure ruled by an absolute and just law. “We apprehend the absolute” (“Nature” 58).He suggested that everything in the world has a purpose and meaning, which are connected to one another and this connection is what makes the world

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