anti-transcendentalism vs transcendentalism?

Question

i have to write a paper on the differences and support my statements with quotes from the novels we read in class

what are the differences and similarities between the antitrans. and the trans.

thank you :]

Answer 1

Transcendentalism VS Anti-Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophy that originated in the 1830's. Its chief aficionado, Ralph Waldo Emerson, began the movement by meeting regularly with other intellectuals of the time to discuss a various array of topics. The Transcendentalism movement was the mainstream flow of writers in the New England Renaissance, large in part to it affected all of the scholars of the period. The contrasting philosophy anti- Transcendentalism was a small philosophical movement predominantly consisting of only two writers, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Herman Melville. These two were leaders of a movement that dared to go against the conventional belief. Hawthorne and Melville are considered two of the greater fiction writer of their time and together these prescient scholars pertinaciously stood up, as opposition to what they felt was impractical perspective. The Transcendentalists had a wide variety of beliefs that were constantly changing to adapt to the time. Though always changing and never having a standard set of beliefs Transcendentalists general agreed on certain key points in their philosophy: man is born good, children are Gods most perfect creation, one can only find god in and through nature the belief in universal truths, and the oversoul pool concept.

Anti-Transcendentalists also have important elements that are generally agreed on: man is born with the stain of the original sin, man is the most destructive force in nature, one can only find God through good works and life experience. There are no Universal truths just individual truths, and there is no oversoul pool just Heaven and Hell. These keynotes in each philosophy are essential in understanding the foundation of both these beliefs

One of Transcendentalists essential beliefs is that man is born essentially good. This is contrary to the belief of anti-Transcendentalists who believes that man is born essentially bad with the stain of the original sin, the sin of Adam and Eve, on their soul. Transcendentalists however believe sins are not passes down from generation to generation. Therefore, man would not have been born with the sin of Adam and Eve, but born with the blessing of god. Regardless of Transcendental belief, Anti-Transcendentalists feel that every soul is born with sin, that sin being passed since the first man and woman, and must wipe it away though good deeds and noble acts. Hence all humans must strive to live a life without sin, and as perfect as possible to relieve themselves of this sin. Unlike their counterparts, believers in the transcendental philosophy believe that children are innocent from birth due to the fact that they have never commit a sin. Thereupon this fact Transcendentalists believe that man is born essentially good because he has never done wrong. Despite the fact that those children have not had a chance to sin anti- Transcendentalists believe the are responsible for the sin of their ancestor and must cleanse their souls of them. This signifies that people are credited with sins that they have not committed. These beliefs are two that closely tie inn with other Transcendental and anti-Transcendental beliefs.

Another key point in the Transcendental philosophy that believers concur with is that children are Gods most perfect creation. This is very much due to the fact that they believe man is born essentially good, which would infer that children are a perfect creation without a blemish. Contrary to that belief, anti-Transcendentalists believe that man is the most destructive force in nature. Anti-Transcendentalists are quick to distinguish between natural and man made disaster, therefore the feel that naturally man will create disaster because it is his nature to do so. Even so, Transcendentalists man will choose to create rather than to destroy. This also underhandedly shows that man will choose right, if giving the choice between right and wrong. On the other hand, anti-Transcendentalists believe man will naturally choose wrong over right if given the choice between the two. Also in spite of the transcendental argument, anti- Transcendentalists argue that man destroy while attempting to create, thus reiterating mans natural creed to destroy. The two philosophy do not end here there are many other beliefs of both that contrast with each other.

An essential key in unlocking the mystery of the Transcendental philosophy is understanding that they believed in finding God through nature. They do not believe nature is God like Pantheist, they believe he can be found by becoming one with nature. In addition, like Buddhist in respects to nature but not like them in their beliefs in god is in all living things. Anti- Transcendentalists oppose this with the belief that God can only be reached though good works and experience. They feel living a good life, doing good deeds, and experiencing life through one's work is the only way to find God. Transcendentalists on the other hand believe nature's peaceful and serene setting is the only place where one can transcend to Gods level. While the conversely the anti-Transcendentalists believe that one will not know if one has found God before one is in the after life. This like the rest is a highly controversial argument between the two philosophies. Though a controversy in itself the nature argument arises in other beliefs.

The Transcendental philosophy is one that requires one to transcend above normal thinking to a higher state of consciousness. Once one has transcended one can come to know universal truths. Contrasting with the beliefs of their Transcendental counter parts anti-Transcendentalists believe that man cannot transcend in this life. They believe that no truth is accepted as true universally. Thereupon they believe there are no universal truths just individual truths. While their counter parts believe that universal truths can only be found through nature. They believe only by transcending to a higher lever of conscious-ness could one every fathom a universal truth. While anti-Transcendentalists oppose this simply by stating one is incapable of transcending in this section of their life to fathom universal truths. In addition, this conflict in the two philosophies defines both to a certain point. Whereas universal truths and individual truths are key in unlocking the mysteries of these beliefs they are not the master key.

The most widely agreed on point in the Transcendentalism philosophy is the total belief in the oversoul pool concept. This is the their interpretation of life after death. The model of the oversoul pool is a fountain where soul mix at the bottom and are born again at the top. Like the religion of Buddhism belief in reincarnation, Transcendentalists believe all souls will come back to life after death. The difference is that Transcendentalists believe that a piece soul will conjoin with all other piece of other soul to form a new soul. In addition, this would hence that all souls go to one place after death. This belief highly contradicts the anti-Transcendentalists belief in conventional Christianity's Heaven and hell theory. In addition, it clashes with their strong belief in individualism by saying that the essential of people mix to form a new unit. Anti-Transcendentalists believe that man will stay and individual in this life and the next, therefore a man's soul cannot go into a melting pot after death. Additionally anti-Transcendentalists believe that good and bad should be separated after, death thus Heaven and Hell. In conclusion Both believe in life after death, just not on a concurring level.

Two philosophical movement, Transcendentalism and anti-Transcendentalism, have a various amount of conflicting ideas and beliefs. Transcendentalism has a belief of man being born essentially good. Nevertheless anti-Transcendentalist has a belief of man being born with the original sin of Adam and Eve. They also believe man is the most destructive force in nature. In spite of that their counter parts believe Children are Gods most perfect creation. Furthermore they believe in one's ability to find God through nature. While anti-Transcendentalist believe one can only find God through Good work and experience. Transcendentalists also feel there are universal truths, and that one can only find them through nature. Even so anti-Transcendentalist believe that there are only individual truths, not universal truths. Moreover they believe that there is no oversoul pool just Heaven and Hell. While their Transcendental complement do believe in the oversoul pool. These are the points that compose these two philosophies. Like good and evil these two beliefs rely on each other to remain in tact. In conclusion neither of the philosophies is right or wrong they are just misunderstood by the other.


http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27186


and in wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism

Answer 2

Anti Transcendentalism

Answer 3

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RE:
anti-transcendentalism vs transcendentalism?
i have to write a paper on the differences and support my statements with quotes from the novels we read in class

what are the differences and similarities between the antitrans. and the trans.

thank you :]