Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson were two of the most important figures in the Transcendentalist movement. Transcendentalism was a philosophical and literary movement that emphasized the importance of intuition and self-reliance.
Thoreau’s book Walden is considered one of the most important texts of the Transcendentalist movement. In it, he argues that people should simplify their lives and live in close harmony with nature. Emerson’s essay “Nature” is another key text of Transcendentalism. In it, he argues that humans are part of nature and that they can learn from nature itself.
Walden, or a Life in the Woods, is Henry David Thoreau’s masterpiece, which demonstrates the influence of transcendentalism on his worldview. Transcendentalism is a religion that emphasizes the importance of the spiritual over the material. As opposed to worldly pleasures, transcendentalism places a premium on spiritual maturation and comprehension.
This philosophy was started by Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau was one of his most famous followers. In Walden, Thoreau chronicles his experience living in a cabin in the woods near Concord, Massachusetts. He built this cabin himself with the help of his friends.
Thoreau lived in this cabin for two years, two months, and two days. During this time, he tried to live as simply as possible. He grew his own food and only bought what he absolutely needed. He also tried to minimize his contact with other people. In Walden, Thoreau reflects on how this experience changed his outlook on life.
Thoreau’s experience at Walden Pond showed him the importance of living a simple life. He came to believe that material possessions do not bring happiness. Instead, he believed that people should focus on their inner lives and on living in harmony with nature. This philosophy is at the heart of Transcendentalismism.
Transcendental had a significant impact on Henry David Thoreau’s life and thinking. This philosophy shaped his view of the world and influenced his decision to live a simple life in nature. Walden is a testament to the power of this philosophy and its ability to change lives.
Transcendentalism was a philosophical movement that emphasized the value of nature and nearness to nature. He believed that nature was a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. As such, a walk in the woods was an attempt to discover spiritual enlightenment. It is important to look ‘through’” not just “at” nature. Thoreau discusses his concept of transcendentalism in three parts in Walden.
The first is the idea of self-reliance. In a world where people are constantly bombarded with ads and messages telling them what they should buy and consume, Thoreau believed that it was important to think for oneself and to be independent. This independence would lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life.
The second area is simplicity. Thoreau believed that people should live simply, in harmony with nature. He thought that material possessions only led to greed and desire, which were ultimately destructive.
The third area is love of nature. For Thoreau, nature was not just something to be observed; it was something to be loved and appreciated. He believed that spending time in nature could bring about spiritual enlightenment.
The first is the significance of the spiritual realm as opposed to material wants. He emphasizes this idea by explaining how the physical world exists only so that souls may have a full life experience. In “Economy,” Thoreau frequently speaks about physical property.
He opens the chapter with the sentence, “I wish to speak a word for Nature, for absolute freedom and wildness, as contrasted with a freedom and culture merely civilized.” This immediately sets up a contrast between two ways of life that will be explored throughout Walden – one that is in harmony with nature (the natural world), and one that has been corrupted by society (the civilized world).
Thoreau then goes on to say that people have become slaves to their possessions, working long hours just to maintain them. In doing so, they have lost touch with what is truly important in life. This idea is central to transcendentalism – that humans must connect with nature in order to find true happiness.
Thoreau concludes the chapter with the famous line, “Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumbnail.” This is his prescription for how to live a good life – by keeping things simple and living in harmony with nature.
In the second chapter, entitled “Where I Lived, and What I Lived For”, Thoreau explains why he moved to Walden Pond. He was seeking a simpler way of life, one that would be more in tune with nature. He believed that humans had become too caught up in the material world and had lost sight of what was truly important.
Thoreau goes on to say that he did not move to Walden Pond to escape society, but rather to learn more about himself. He wanted to strip away the trappings of civilization and find out what it truly meant to be human. This idea is central to transcendentalism – that humans must look inward in order to find true happiness.
In the third chapter, entitled “Reading”, Thoreau discusses the importance of learning. He believes that humans should never stop learning, even when they are old. He also believes that humans should not just read books, but also nature. He says that we can learn just as much from nature as we can from books. This idea is central to transcendentalism – that humans should never stop learning and that they can find wisdom in both books and nature.
In the fourth chapter, entitled “Sounds”, Thoreau discusses the importance of silence. He believes that humans should not be constantly bombarded with noise. He says that silence is necessary for humans to truly hear themselves think. This idea is central to transcendentalism – that humans need to find silence in order to find true happiness.
If a reader of Thoreau’s Winter Walking experiences the woods for himself, as he did, one can appreciate his love and pity for those who have money but still choose to go into the wilderness. When I’ve encountered an immigrant staggering under a bundle that included all of his belongings…I’ve pitied him, not because it was all of his possessions, but because he had so much to carry.
Henry David Thoreau lived a simple life in nature, and he believed that people should not be tethered to material possessions. This was a central tenant of the Transcendentalist movement which began in the early 1800s. Ralph Waldo Emerson, another notable Transcendentalist, wrote an essay entitled “Self-Reliance” in which he encouraged people to break away from societal norms and listen to their own inner voice. T
he Transcendentalists believed that humans were innately good and that they could find divinity within themselves. They also stressed the importance of living in harmony with nature. Thoreau’s experience at Walden Pond was very much in line with these beliefs.
