How did transcendentalism contribute to the spirit of reform?
TRANSCENDENTALISM. Transcendentalists added to the spirit of reform by urging people to question society’s rules and institutions. Do not conform to others’ expectations, they said. If you want to find God–and your own true self–look to nature and the “God within.”
Why did many Transcendentalists become involved in social reform?
At its core, Transcendentalism celebrated the divine equality of each soul. Because of this basic belief, many Transcendentalists became involved in efforts to reverse conditions that prevented individuals from realizing their full potential. …
How did Transcendentalists try to influence society?
As a group, the transcendentalists led the celebration of the American experiment as one of individualism and self-reliance. They took progressive stands on women’s rights, abolition, reform, and education. They criticized government, organized religion, laws, social institutions, and creeping industrialization.
How does nonconformity relate to transcendentalism?
non·con·form·i·ty –noun 1. failure or refusal to conform, as with established customs, attitudes, or ideas. ( often initial capital letter ) refusal to conform to the Church of England. The Transcendentalists, especially Henry David Thoreau, appalled conforming to society merely for the purpose of “fitting in”.
What is the theme of nonconformity?
In this passage Emerson also expresses the theme of nonconformity: “Society is a joint-stock company” in which the members agree to sacrifice the desires of the individual for the safety of the group.
What are the two enemies of self reliance?
Shifting the discussion to how the ideal individual is treated, Emerson notes two enemies of the independent thinker: society’s disapproval or scorn, and the individual’s own sense of consistency.
Are they my poor Emerson?
Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent, I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong.
How does Emerson view society and how does he feel self reliance?
Men do not express their souls when they enforce only what others have already professed. Emerson is saying that society is ultimately in opposition to the individual (actually, it’s in a conspiracy against man) and self-reliance is its aversion.
What according to Emerson is wrong with the social state of America in 1841?
What, according to Emerson, is wrong with the “social state” of America in 1841? Americans have become weak, shy, and fearful, an indication of its true problem: it is no longer capable of producing “great and perfect persons.”