Transcendentalism in Civil Disobedience
Dannheisig 1 Jan-Hendrik Dannheisig Susanne Hamscha, M.A. Re(dis)covering America: Emerson, Thoreau, and American Democracy 10 April 2012
Transcendentalism in "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau's Politics of Individuality and Nature
Dannheisig 2
Contents Introduction 1. Transcendentalism a. Nature b. Introspective Conscience and Politics 2. Political Individualism a. Ethical and Political (In)justice b. Critique of Democracy Conclusion Bibliography
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Dannheisig 3 Introduction Henry David Thoreau was part of a movement called American Transcendentalism. To illuminate Thoreau's understanding of democracy, political action and justice this paper will focus on the influence transcendentalism had on his ideas and ideals in his essay "Resistance to Civil Government" better known as "Civil Disobedience." Mostly found in his naturalist writings like Walden, The Maine Woods or his journals, Thoreau's transcendental influences shape his political writings just as much. In Thoreau's thinking there is an underlying dichotomy between nature and artificial social constructs, like governments or churches. This dichotomy is the basis for his distrust in majority rule and mindless compliance with laws by the public. Thoreau focuses on an individualized responsibility for one's actions by declaring only introspectively found truths a sufficient basis for one's conscience and therefore one's actions. This is where transcendentalism is found in his argumentation. The transcendental approach to all of reality is through introspection, finding knowledge and truth in ourselves instead of in empirical experience or law. Thoreau incorporates this idea of introspective conscience into a framework of political realities, like slavery in the United States at the time or the Mexican-American War. This application of a highly philosophical understanding of reality onto complex political problems during the time is the reason "Civil Disobedience" received so much
Transcendentalism in "Civil Disobedience" Thoreau's Politics of Individuality and Nature
Dannheisig 2
Contents Introduction 1. Transcendentalism a. Nature b. Introspective Conscience and Politics 2. Political Individualism a. Ethical and Political (In)justice b. Critique of Democracy Conclusion Bibliography
2 3 4 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Dannheisig 3 Introduction Henry David Thoreau was part of a movement called American Transcendentalism. To illuminate Thoreau's understanding of democracy, political action and justice this paper will focus on the influence transcendentalism had on his ideas and ideals in his essay "Resistance to Civil Government" better known as "Civil Disobedience." Mostly found in his naturalist writings like Walden, The Maine Woods or his journals, Thoreau's transcendental influences shape his political writings just as much. In Thoreau's thinking there is an underlying dichotomy between nature and artificial social constructs, like governments or churches. This dichotomy is the basis for his distrust in majority rule and mindless compliance with laws by the public. Thoreau focuses on an individualized responsibility for one's actions by declaring only introspectively found truths a sufficient basis for one's conscience and therefore one's actions. This is where transcendentalism is found in his argumentation. The transcendental approach to all of reality is through introspection, finding knowledge and truth in ourselves instead of in empirical experience or law. Thoreau incorporates this idea of introspective conscience into a framework of political realities, like slavery in the United States at the time or the Mexican-American War. This application of a highly philosophical understanding of reality onto complex political problems during the time is the reason "Civil Disobedience" received so much
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