How Philosophies Changed America
Philosophies have Changed America In the United States there are numerous events that have contributed to the people's views on the philosophies that have been brought up. The first philosophy was Puritanism and it was created to ensure that people were doing God’s work and dedicating their lives to him. Centuries later the popular philosophy of deism was followed and it made people aware that logic and reasoning were present in the environment. Transcendentalism arose in the 19th century which soon turned people into more self-reliant humans. Throughout the major literary philosophies in the United States, one can see how the role of a superior being shifts from very powerful to a more subtle and personal connection.
To begin, Puritans did …show more content…
For example, nature has a big impact on the ones who decide to acknowledge its power and divinity. Ultimately, mother earth can console people by bringing them a new perspective towards life. In the poem, “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, he conveys that death is not a frightful thing and explains that nature “has a voice of gladness [and also has a] smile and eloquence of beauty” (220. 4-5). For this reason, many people are able to witness the state of tranquility and contentment that is present in the natural world. This allusion personifies nature as not only the surroundings of a person, but something that they are truly connected to. It is evident that the truth comes from intuition and solitude, not God. Indeed, a life well-spent is when someone focuses on the life in front of them and realizes what nature has to offer. In the excerpt, “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he states that “all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influence,” which explains the connection that humans have with nature and the sacrifice they must make to indulge themselves within it ( 241). Connecting with the environment allows a person to understand the beauty and extent of the world, rather than just focusing on a superior being. The affirmative feeling of Transcendentalists is that they are one with nature and one with the world. Instead of giving their faith to an over-seeking power, they take in the ideas and beliefs from all living things and incorporate them in making decisions based on their own personal experiences with
To begin, Puritans did …show more content…
For example, nature has a big impact on the ones who decide to acknowledge its power and divinity. Ultimately, mother earth can console people by bringing them a new perspective towards life. In the poem, “Thanatopsis” by William Cullen Bryant, he conveys that death is not a frightful thing and explains that nature “has a voice of gladness [and also has a] smile and eloquence of beauty” (220. 4-5). For this reason, many people are able to witness the state of tranquility and contentment that is present in the natural world. This allusion personifies nature as not only the surroundings of a person, but something that they are truly connected to. It is evident that the truth comes from intuition and solitude, not God. Indeed, a life well-spent is when someone focuses on the life in front of them and realizes what nature has to offer. In the excerpt, “Nature” by Ralph Waldo Emerson, he states that “all natural objects make a kindred impression when the mind is open to their influence,” which explains the connection that humans have with nature and the sacrifice they must make to indulge themselves within it ( 241). Connecting with the environment allows a person to understand the beauty and extent of the world, rather than just focusing on a superior being. The affirmative feeling of Transcendentalists is that they are one with nature and one with the world. Instead of giving their faith to an over-seeking power, they take in the ideas and beliefs from all living things and incorporate them in making decisions based on their own personal experiences with