Chapter XLVI: Part III: 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