聊城大学外国语学院美国文学史与选读课件 Lecture11.ppt

Transcendentalism  Ralph Waldo Emerson Transcendentalism (1) Resources (2) Features (3) Significance Resources a special kind of philosophy appeared in the 1830s in US,quite influential A. Puritan heritage At the end of the 18th century people gradually felt boring about the strict Calvinism. At the same time with the development of science and technology, Americans suspected the old religion. Thus, Unitarianism（唯一理教） appeared. It was a developed school from the Transcendentalism. It stressed continual progress of mankind rather than old religions man’s total depravity”. It influenced Emerson. Emerson once was a preacher of Unitarianism, but he thought there were too many rituals in this religious school. Then he resigned from the position and sought a way for people to worship more freely. Emerson also believed in individuality and the dream of making a Garden of Eden on earth held by old generation Puritans. From Jonathan Edwards Emerson inherited the ideas of inward communication with God and the divine symbolism of nature. Resources B. Foreign influence German Philosophy, especially Kant(康德) Ancient Indian and Chinese works, such as Confucius and Mencius Features A. Emphasis on Spirit (Oversoul) (超灵) against “world is made of matter”; against “neglecting of spiritual life in capitalist world” B. Emphasis on individuals Old Puritan views: self-reliance and self-improvement Through communication with Oversoul, human being can be divine. against “total depravity” in Old Puritan doctrines against dehumanization of capitalist world C. Taking nature as the symbol of the Spirit (Oversoul) 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 Signific