Some facets of Transcendentalism can be applied in today’s society. while others have lost their relevancy due to the alterations of societal and economic conditions since the clip of Thoreau. The Transcendentalists’ end was to make a Utopia in America. They believed in a society without regulations in which you would be free to make whatever you wanted every bit long as it did non conflict on the freedom or wellbeing of others. The construct of what is a Utopia is different for every individual. In today’s dumbly populated states it appears about impossible to make anything that does non impact or conflict upon person else.
The Transcendentalists besides believed in the Jeffersonian doctrine that each coevals should merely be concerned with itself and its ain wellbeing. which would guarantee a solid foundation for the following coevals. I think this would non work in today’s society because there are many things we could make to assist our coevals but would do ulterior coevalss pay a monetary value. An illustration of this would be supplying occupations for a strip-mining undertaking to assist the current generation’s economic system. while it destroys the environment for ulterior coevalss. Transcendentalist beliefs of adding onto the old generations’ attempts would non work if each coevals. in assisting itself. is destructing the Earth.
The Transcendentalists besides believed that one should populate merely. with few stuff ownerships. To explicate this point. we consider how much the sheer volume of stuff ownerships has changed over the old ages. When cave work forces roamed the Earth. an luxuriant stuff ownership might hold been a wood nine studded with stones. or an particularly beautiful breechcloth. In the 1800s. an car was a ownership of great material value. Thoreau had a little house. 3 chairs. a desk. 2 suits. and a few books. He was able to prolong himself by turning his ain nutrient in the encompassing country. The construct of what is considered necessary for a comfy life has changed immensely since Thoreau’s clip.
While all he needed was a roof over his caput and a spot of land and a few seeds. most people in today’s society must hold a “job” and acquire paid to purchase shelter and nutrient. energy. transit. and all other modern necessities. In Thoreau’s clip there were fewer people. so if person wanted to. they could travel out and populate in the wilderness. Today. if person wanted to populate in the wilderness in a negotiable clime. it would be impossible because of the sheer sum of urban conurbation and the Torahs which are in topographic point to protect the wilderness.
As I examined the multiple points of Transcendentalism. I found that even in Thoreau’s clip. it would be possible for person to pattern some of the facets of Transcendentalism. while seting other facets into pattern would be about impossible. I think populating in the true Transcendentalist life style is neither executable nor really good. The true significance of what Thoreau discovered while life at Walden Pond was to simplify your life and accept your topographic point in the universe. Here are some words from the adult male himself:
“Rather than love. than money. than celebrity. give me truth. I sat at a tabular array where were rich nutrient and vino in copiousness. and bootlicking attending. but earnestness and truth were non ; and I went off hungry from the inhospitable board. ”
“However intend your life is. run into it and populate it ; make non eschew it and name it difficult names. It is non so bad as you are. It looks poorest when you are richest. The fault-finder will happen mistakes even in Eden. Love your life. hapless as it is. ”
