The Extremely Intuitive RomanticsThe Extremely Intuitive Romantics

A philosophy based on A philosophy based on intuition, or “gut feeling,” intuition, or “gut feeling,” rather than rational, logical rather than rational, logical

evidence.evidence.

Ralph Waldo Emerson Ralph Waldo Emerson – – The ThinkerThe Thinker

Henry David Thoreau Henry David Thoreau – – The DoerThe Doer

1. 1. NatureNature is the ultimate source of wisdom, not is the ultimate source of wisdom, not society. Nature is the only purity.society. Nature is the only purity.

2. Individuals should reject conformity.2. Individuals should reject conformity.

Intuition

3. Self Reliance. One should rely on themselves.

Society may put pressure on us and tell us what to do, but it is within ourselves that we will find truth– through meditation of our souls and our own intuition.

4. There is an inner and a concrete world. One 4. There is an inner and a concrete world. One must know the inner to truly live in the must know the inner to truly live in the concrete.concrete.

5. All things 5. All things derive from the derive from the OversoulOversoul, , creator of creator of nature, the nature, the unifying force unifying force that has what is that has what is known as a known as a Divine Divine Intellect.Intellect.

6. Lemon Pie Theory We are all from the Oversoul. We are pieces of the same pie, made of the same ingredients– the same “filling.” It is society that pulls us from the pie; and though we are all part of the same pie, we are therefore individual pieces.

Transcendentalism- asserts that all humans are capable of doing what is right. Through NATURE, humans get in touch with their SOULS, and INTUITION will direct them do the correct action.

Belief:Society SCREAMS choices at us all of the time… The soul communicates with the brain through intuition (the soul’s voice) to make the correct choices in spite of outside pressure.

Preached:- Non-violent protesting against governments that

oppress individuals.- drug-free meditation. Drug use keeps us from

hearing our intuition.

Transcendentalism as an answer to most social problems:

- racism/slavery- sexism- violence- poverty, etc.

Because transcendentalists do what their souls (made in God’s perfect image) say is right NOT what society says is right, atrocities would not happen.

Popular Transcendentalists of the Era:- Ralph Waldo Emerson (“Father of Transcendentalism”)- Henry David Thoreau

Modern Transcendentalists:- Martin Luther King Jr. - Mahatma Gandhi- Mother Theresa

Anti- Transcendentalists believed:- Humans need external structure (rules via

government/ organized society)- Some people, such as the criminally insane or

disabled, choose not to be perfect or cannot be perfect (this led toward gothic writing).

Did Transcendentalism work?NO! Meditation took too much time- people had to spend their days in the pursuit of survival (farming, child rearing, etc.) and couldn’t take the time to Meditate / listen to their souls, etc. It just wasn’t practical for everybody.

BUT… Was it Inspirational?YES! Many movements, people, philosophies, artists, writers, politics, ideologies, and cultures have been highly influenced by Transcendentalism. Every day people think about it still and have changed they way they live because of it.

This extreme group of Romantics, known as the Transcendentalists, have inspired people around the world to this very day.

Every one of us, even YOU,

is a piece of the lemon pie…