Differentiate

Transcendentalism
and Existentialism

Nemie Anne B. Mateo

Master in Public Administration
A.Y 2022-2023 1st Semester
Transcendentalism
 Origin Transcendentalism
A philosophical movement that developed in the
late 1820s and 1830s in New England.

It started to develop after Unitarianism took hold at

Harvard University.
 Ralph Waldo Emerson Henry David Thoreau

Key
KeyFigures
Figures
“Transcendental Club”
Transcendental Club
Margaret Fuller
 What is Transcendentalism?
A philosophical movement believe in the essential
unity of all creation, the innate goodness of
humanity, and the supremacy of insight over logic
and experience for the revelation of the deepest
truths.
 Basic Beliefs of Transcendenatlism

 Everything in world, including people,

is a reflection of God or the Divine
Soul.

 Person Authority– not the society, the

church or government

 People can use intuition to see God in

nature and in their own soul.

 Humans are inherently good but can

be corrupted by society and
institution.
Basic Beliefs of Transcendenatlism

Government
Churches
Society
Basic Beliefs of Transcendenatlism

GOD

Inside every person head is GOD!

God is everywhere and in everything!!!

In other words, transcendentalists

believe spirituality isn’t something
you can explain; it’s something you
feel.
 Basic Beliefs of Transcendenatlism

Since God is within us, every person

“intuition”, an essential understanding of
right and wrong.

We don’t need to learn morality from so

called holy books, laws or society
 1. Individualism
Essential 2. Self Reliance
Values 3. Importance of Nature
 1. Individualism
Essential
Values
 Individualism / Non Conformity

Individualism is the idea of thinking for oneself

without the rules set by society.
Individualism / Non Conformity
 Individualism / Non Conformity

Bon Jovi;s song is an example of transcendentalist live their lives.

Based on the title and lyrics - “It’s My Life,”

“It’s now or never” “I did it my way,”

Transcendentalist believes that we should do things the way we want to do

things and not what other people tell us to do.

Individualism inspires free thought and actions based on a persons own

values, not the values of others
Essential 2. Self Reliance
Values
Self Reliance & Idealism
 Idealism

Human beings are naturally good at their core.

Again, it is society that corrupts us.
 Self Reliance

The idea that one can rely on his or her own

judgment, choices, and be free from these societal
influences is to be self-reliant.

According to Emerson, it's better to trust yourself.

In some cases, if not most or all cases, to trust
yourself over and above what others believe.
 Intuition

Since God is within us, every person

"intuition," an essential
understanding of right and wrong
(morality).

We don’t need to learn morality from

so-called holy books, laws, or
society.
Connection to Nature
Connection to Nature
 Connection to Nature

The conservation of an undisturbed natural world

is also extremely important to the
Transcendentalists.

Transcendentalists were lovers of nature, and did

not think it was something that could be controlled
by anyone. Instead, they believed that the only
thing people can control is what is in their own
minds
 Connection to Nature

Transcendentalists have a deep gratitude and appreciation for nature,

not only for aesthetic purposes, but also as a tool to observe and
understand the structured inner workings of the natural world

Thoreau and Emerson emphasized on the transcendentalist idea of

human harmony with nature. They believed that nature can help us
improve spiritually and help us connect to the rest of the world.
According to Transcendental ideas, everything is connected,
everything is one.
Existentialism
Key
KeyFigures
Figures
Transcendental Club
Existentialism
 Existentialism is the philosophical
belief we are each responsible for
creating purpose or meaning in our
own lives.
 Beliefs of Existentialist

 Human create their own value

through choice.

 Their values help them create a

meaning of life

 Humans have freedom, but with that

freedom comes the responsibility
 Beliefs of Existentialist

 We have no one to blame for our choices but

ourselves.
 Main Themes of Existentialism

 Freedom – you are free to be the person that

you choose

 Existence is absurd – this means we exist in

meaningless world

 Truth is subjective – this means what is true for

one person might not be true for another.
 Philisophy Beliefs
Differentiate
Transcendentalism
& Existentialism

Core Values Believe in God

 Difference between Transcendentalism and Existentialism

Transcendentalism Existentialism

Philosopy Human are inherently good existence precede essence

Existense Divine Spirit or God They Believe in God Choice to belive or not to believe

Core Values Self Reliance Freedom

Focus Focus on Intuition and Feelings Focuses on individual Free will

 Difference between Transcendentalism and Existentialism
Transcendentalism
philosophy that gives priority to
Philosophy
reason as the key to
understanding reality
believe in the existence of a
Believe in God
divine spirit
It centers around the belief that
spirituality cannot be achieved
Basic Premise through reason and rationalism,
but instead through self-reflection
and intuition
freethinking, self reliance and
Core Values
non conformity
Humans are inherently good but
Main Principle can be corrupted by society and
institutions
Importance of intuition and
Tenent feeling over reason and sense
experience
Existentialism
philosophy states that people should
make rational decisions based on their
own experiences rather than relying
on external authorities.
Divided in to two groups: Atheistic
existentialists - rejecting the existence
of a deity or adherence to religious
rules.
Theistic Existentialist - believe in the
existense of God and adheres to
religious beliefs.
emphasizes the uniqueness of each
human existence in freely choosing
itself.
action, freedom, and decision
Existence before Essence
focuses on the individual’s free will
when it comes to making decisions
about one’s life
THANK YOU!