The Transcendental Mind
I. The Genesis of Transcendentalism: An expression of metaphysical Utopianism. Idealism long starved in New England. Derived from Unitarian doctrine of the open mind. German idealism and native impulses. A glorification of conscience and will--romantic. The note of mysticism. The outcome a movement of criticism 379
II. Ralph Waldo Emerson--Transcendental Critic: His theory of transcendental criticism. The early Emerson--an ascetic. Influence of first trip abroad--_Nature_. The gist of Emersonianism. Reasons for the contrast between the real and ideal. Estimate of democracy; theory of the political state--the ethical absolute--a transcendental Jeffersonianism. Theory of economics--bias towards Physiocratic conception. A critic of contemporary America--its materialisms. Attitude towards reform 386
III. Henry Thoreau--Transcendental Economist: His life-business to explore the meaning of wealth. His life an experiment in values. A Concord man who “signed off.” A Hellenist interpreting spiritual values. The problem of economics stated. Significance of _Walden_--suggestions of William Morris. The challenge of slavery: _Civil Disobedience_. Compared with Godwin’s _Political Justice_--doctrine of individual syndicalism. Admiration for John Brown. The extremest expression of eighteenth-century individualism 400
IV. Theodore Parker--Transcendental Minister: His characteristics: a fighting man, a revolutionary. Sermon on _The Transient and Permanent in Christianity_--marks the second stage of Unitarianism. His studies in higher criticism; his doctrine. His conception of human perfectibility--evolutionary. A primitive democrat; a political critic. Attack on current materialisms--criticism of Webster. A modern 414
V. Margaret Fuller--Rebel: An embodiment of transcendental rebellions. The contradictions in her character as explained by Freudian psychology. Her training--a victim of sex. Contemporary analysis of her character. An intellectual child of eighteenth-century romanticisms--influence of Goethe. Transcendentalism--Brook Farm. _Woman in the Nineteenth Century_ and feminism. Work as a critic. Career in Europe. Influence of Jean Jacques. The price of her rebellions 426