Transcendentalism Today

Transcendentalism is a societal movement that focuses around the conscious and purity. The world today is a completely different place than it was during the transcendental era. Society today has smartphones, airplanes, and quantum computers, all of which actually go against transcendentalist beliefs. Despite its age, the transcendentalist values still affect society today. Through growing environmental awareness, self reliance, and the optimistic outlook people have today, transcendentalism can still be seen in today’s society. Environmental awareness is a key part of transcendentalism. It’s influence can be seen in Nature by R.W. Emerson. It speaks of the reverence and beauty of nature, and how nature should be preserved like “the city of God” (Emerson). In modern day society, the preservation of nature is a key issue that many strongly believe in. The ideals of modern preservation began with the protests against the Hetch Hetchy dam. Since that time, so many people have backed this that modern American politics formed the Green Party for the wise use of the environment. Due to transcendental beliefs playing a key role in the current political atmosphere, it can definitely be seen in today’s society. Another key belief of transcendentalism is self reliance. This means that people will be
Transcendentalists believed that being optimistic was important to leading a better life. For example, in Self Reliance, Emerson states that greatness is for the future, and that it is achieved through being independent (Emerson). Today, optimism still shines through world peace. We are currently participating in fewer wars than at any other point in human history (Steve). The world peace and higher standard of living today causes global optimism, a transcendentalist belief. Optimism on the outlook of life still existing today is a transcendentalist belief existing in modern