Transcendentalism In Schools Essay

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As new philosophies emerge and old ones vanish in the modern world, transcendentalism remains the subject of discussion in English classrooms of schools and universities. Although the study of the philosophy persists, intellectuals debate its practicality in the modern world. In reality, the transcendentalist ideology fails to function in today’s society.
At first glance, the core transcendentalist idea of individuality appears to saturate modern society, but further analysis shows that the current obsession with this idea does not reflect its existence. Although Americans frequently bring it up and teach their children to embrace their unique qualities, the vast majority of the population nonetheless strives to adhere to societal norms. …show more content…
Many teenagers, for example, are addicted to social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook. Although these platforms have practical uses, the extreme dependence of teenagers on frequent distraction and entertainment would make transcendentalist authors like Thoreau disillusioned. In Walden, Thoreau criticized society for being obsessed with information and entertainment, but the problem is now much worse due to the new technological innovations. Also, many Americans no longer show independence when dealing with the government. In “Civil Disobedience,” Thoreau deemed it his duty to disobey the government that he disliked. Although many people disagree with the current government of the United States, only a small fraction of those shows their disapproval through direct action. The transcendentalist views about individual independence ultimately do not work in today’s society because the society maintains the belief that it is independent without realizing the problem, and those who realize it are unable to change their habits and to resist societal

How Did Henry David Thoreau Contribute To Transcendentalism

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How Did Ralph Waldo Emerson Impact Society

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Self-Reliance In A Brave New World

Chris used his own ideals as a motivator to follow the path he draws. Chris did not care whether people understood him or not; like the fourth basic premise of Transcendentalism which states, “self-reliance and individualism must outweigh external authority and blind conformity to custom and tradition.” Jesus and Galileo, among many others, were ridiculed and persecuted for their beliefs during their time but chose to…

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Compare And Contrast Thoreau And Emerson

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