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Which religious and philosophical traditions influenced New England Transcendentalism?
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American literature
Map of Virginia from John Smith's The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles, 1624.
New England Transcendentalism was an eclectic 19th-century movement that emerged from a dissatisfaction with Unitarianism and a broader rejection of established religious and philosophical conventions. In their search for a liberating philosophy, Transcendentalists drew upon a diverse array of traditions:12
- Philosophical Traditions: The movement was heavily influenced by Platonism and Neoplatonism, as well as German transcendentalism—particularly the ideas of Immanuel Kant as interpreted by figures like Thomas Carlyle.134
- Eastern Scriptures: Transcendentalists turned to Indian and Chinese scriptures, finding resonance in Hindu monistic beliefs that view the cosmos as sacred and unified.15
- Mysticism: The writings of mystics such as Emanuel Swedenborg and Jakob Böhme served as significant sources of inspiration.14
By synthesizing these global influences, Transcendentalists championed a belief in the essential unity of all creation, the innate goodness of humanity, and the supremacy of individual insight over traditional logic and experience.12