Description
Transcendentalism was an American form of European idealism and romanticism that emerged in the 1830s as a religious, philosophical, literary and social reform movement. Its core belief was self- trust—not as egotism, but as respect for the divine spark in oneself, in nature and in every other person. It affirmed the power of intuition to know the truth and it believed that each of us has unique powers that, if developed and nourished, makes us equal to whatever life demands of us. This introductory course will look at the historical context of the movement, its main tenets and its main proponents, including Emerson, Thoreau and Fuller. It will also consider whether transcendentalism is a living tradition and, if so, what it has to say to us today. No background in philosophy or history is needed. Please note that due to the MLK Day Holiday, the second class will meet on Tuesday, 1/20.
Richard Higgins is a writer, freelance book editor and the author or editor of five books, including Thoreau’s God, from the University of Chicago Press, and Thoreau and the Language of Trees. A former staff writer for The Boston Globe, he is also the coauthor of Portfolio Life and a volume editor of Taking Faith Seriously from Harvard University Press. Richard lives in Concord and is a graduate of Holy Cross, Columbia Journalism School and Harvard Divinity School. He has written for The New York Times, Washington Post, Christian Century and American Scholar.
