- It is a loose collection of eclectic ideas about literature, philosophy, religion, social reform, and the general state of American culture.There is an ideal spiritual state which “transcends” the physical and empirical.

-It is not a religion—more accurately, it is a philosophy or form of spirituality. It originated in America in Boston and Concord, MA. in the mid-1800’s.

Premise #1 An individual is the spiritual center of the universe, and in an individual can be found the clue to nature, history and, ultimately, the cosmos itself. It is not a rejection of the existence of God, but a preference to explain an individual and the world in terms of an individual.

Premise #2 The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."

Premise #3 The structure of the universe literally duplicates the structure of the individual self—all knowledge, therefore, begins with self-knowledge. This is similar to Aristotle's dictum "know thyself."

Premise #4 The belief that individual virtue and happiness depend upon self-realization—this depends upon the reconciliation of two universal psychological tendencies:
The desire to embrace the whole world—to know and become one with the world.
The desire to withdraw, remain unique and separate—an egotistical existence.

-1803-1882
-Unitarian minister
-Poet and essayist
-Founded the Transcendental Club
-Popular lecturer
-Banned from Harvard for 40 years following his Divinity -School address
-Supporter of abolitionism

-1817-1862
-Schoolteacher, essayist, poet
-Most famous for "Walden" and "Civil Disobedience"
-Influenced environmental movement
-Supporter of abolitionism

-1810-1850
-Journalist, critic, women’s rights activist
-First editor of The Dial, a transcendental journal
-First female journalist to work on a major newspaper—The New York Tribune
-Taught at Alcott’s Temple School