美国romanticism 5.pptVIP

The American Romanticism (5) 1. General Introduction 2. Ralph Waldo Emerson 3. Henry David Thoreau (1817- 1862) Transcendentalism The term “Transcendentalism”was derived from the Latin verb transcendere: to rise above , to pass beyond the limits. It is a 19th-century movement of writers and philosophers in New England who were loosely bound together by adherence to an idealistic system of thought. 1. General Introduction (1) In1836，with the publication of a little book entitled Nature, American Romanticism was pushed into the phase of New England transcendentalism, the summit of American Romanticism. It is the product of combination of foreign influence (German idealistic philosopher, neo-Platonism, Oriental mysticism, Confucius and Mencius) and American native Puritan tradition. (2) Features A. Emphasis on Spirit (Oversoul) (超灵) the universe is composed of Nature and Soul. against “world is made of matter”; against “neglecting of spiritual life in capitalist world” （爱默生在超验主义里强调的超灵相当于过去宗教里上帝的这个角色，在超验主义里超灵是无形的，人生活的世界里所有的一切都来自超灵，超灵在人生活的世界里也无所不在。）B. Emphasis on individualsRelying on Intuition and Conscience, man can transcend the limits of the senses and of logic and directly receive higher truths and greater knowledge denied to more mundane[m?ndein]世俗的 methods of knowing. against “total depravity” in Old Puritan doctrinesagainst dehumanization of capitalist world Through communication with Oversoul, human being can be divine[divain]神圣的 C. Taking nature as the symbol of the Spirit (Oversoul)nature is a connecting link between God and man encouraging people to find goodness and beauty from nature against materialism in the society and the actions which broke the harmony between human and nature only for profits D. Brotherhood of man (equal and liberty)interested in social reforms; endeavor to create an ideal society; against “everything for money” in the capitalist world 2. Ralph Waldo Emerson (1) Life (2) Major