Basic tenets of american Transcendentalism 1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism 2. The transcendentalist transcends or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. 3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or" float for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death 4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God) 5 This oversoul or life force or god can be found everywhere- travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary. 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature(Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations)Basic Tenets of American Transcendentalism: ◼ 1. Transcendentalism, essentially, is a form of idealism. ◼ 2. The transcendentalist "transcends" or rises above the lower animalistic impulses of life (animal drives) and moves from the rational to a spiritual realm. ◼ 3. The human soul is part of the Oversoul or universal spirit (or "float" for Whitman) to which it and other souls return at death. ◼ 4. Therefore, every individual is to be respected because everyone has a portion of that Oversoul (God). ◼ 5. This Oversoul or Life Force or God can be found everywhere - travel to holy places is, therefore, not necessary. 6. God can be found in both nature and human nature (Nature, Emerson stated, has spiritual manifestations)