Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism advocates for the inherent goodness of both people and nature, stressing self-reliance, intuition, and independence. It holds that a spiritual reality transcends the empirical and scientific, accessible through individual intuition and immersion in the natural world.
I. Time
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Emergent |
| Grain | Continuous |
| Freedom | Non-Deterministic |
| Traversability | Linear |
| Dimensionality | One |
| Direction | Uni-directional |
Time is emergent and finite in the material sense — it is the medium of ordinary experience, but the spiritual reality glimpsed through intuition is eternal and present. The Transcendentalist finds the infinite within the finite moment: "the eternal NOW." Time is continuous, linear, and uni-directional in daily life, but intuitive experience dissolves temporal boundaries.
II. Space
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Emergent |
| Curvature | Flat |
| Dimensionality | Three |
| Locality | Local |
Space is emergent and finite — it is the natural environment through which the individual encounters the divine. Thoreau's Walden Pond is not just a place but a portal to transcendent truth. Space is flat, local, and three-dimensional in physical terms, but the natural landscape is charged with spiritual significance that exceeds any geometric description.
III. Matter
| Extent | Finite |
| Ontological Status | Emergent |
| Conservation | Conserved |
| Dimensionality | Three |
| Locality | Local |
Matter is emergent — it is the visible expression of a deeper spiritual reality. Every natural fact is a symbol of a spiritual fact (Emerson). Matter is conserved and local in the physical sense, but its true significance lies in its transparency to the divine. The Transcendentalist reads nature as a spiritual text written by the Over-Soul.
IV. Observer
| Time Instance | Single |
| Space Instance | Single |
| Extent of Knowledge | Total |
| Retainment of Knowledge | Total |
| Physicality | Embodied |
| Agency | Active |
| Number | Singular |
V. Energy
Both finite and infinite — material energy is finite, but the spiritual energy of the Over-Soul is infinite and ever-present. Existence: Emerging — vital, spiritual energy flows from the divine ground of nature and is drawn upon through intuition. Conservation: Conserved — natural energies follow their own rhythms and laws; the moral and spiritual dimensions of energy are conserved in the Over-Soul. Usage: Multiple — energy flows through natural cycles, renewed through contact with the divine in nature.
VI. Information
Information in the material world is a transient expression of deeper spiritual truths. Material information is impermanent; only spiritual insight endures.