What Does Gura Influence Social Reform?

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Philip F. Gura aims to point out the immense influence Transcendentalism had on social reform in the United States during the 1800s and the irony of this philosophy’s downfall. Gura’s perspective is that a true “brotherhood” could almost be obtained through Transcendentalism; yet it never happened. In this light, Gura speaks to the origination of Transcendentalism in American culture and the major people involved in its conception and expansion; as well as the major social reforms influenced by Transcendentalism. First of all, Gura points out that America was ripe for a philosophy like Transcendentalism by stating it “seemed the ideal philosophy for a nation dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal and have the same inalienable rights” (Gura). Furthermore, Transcendentalism grew out of “the so-called Romantic movement applied democratic ideals to philosophy, religion, …show more content…

Emerson hoped to escape “the trappings of the illusory world and discover the godliness of the inner self” (Gale Contextual Encyclopedia of American Literature 491) and was best known for his repeated use of the phrase "trust thyself" (Galens, Smith, Thomason 250). Thoreau saw Nature as a “living Bible” (Tindall and Shi 398). Ripely opened the Brook Farm (Gura) and Margaret Fuller the best advocate of women’s rights. Furthermore, everyone except Emerson, believed that society would be better if everyone was treated with equality. To this means, Gura says they believed even,
The impoverished, the mentally and physically challenged, the imprisoned and those otherwise institutionalized, and the enslaved: Transcendentalists recognized these members of society as their equals in spirituality, and America’s promise would not be fulfilled until the benefits of its citizenship were available to all

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