The New England Transcendentalists

The New England Transcendentalists were a group of 19th-century philosophers and writers who believed in the inherent goodness of people and nature. They emphasized individual intuition and the spiritual over materialism, advocating for self-reliance and personal connection to the divine. Key figures included Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau. Their ideas encouraged a deeper understanding of life and encouraged movements such as social reform and environmental conservation. Transcendentalism also laid the foundation for modern American thought, intertwining spirituality, nature, and a commitment to authentic living.