R.W. Emerson’s Transcendentalism and Advaita Vedanta: A Comparative Study
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to analyse R.W Emersons Transcendentalism and non-dualistic Indian thought. This paper attempts to study the purpose of human life according to R.W Emerson and its affinity with Vedantic concept of Jeevan Mukti. The 19th century American Society witnessed new trends in art, culture, religion and philosophy. New England young intellectuals embraced new thoughts and ideas and attempted to redefine American Religious Culture, Philosophy and Literature. This religious philosophical and literary movement was known as Transcendentalism in the history of American literature. The Transcendentalists revolted against established traditions and tried to construct new philosophy. The young intellectuals advocated divinity of man, purity of human heart and individualism. The young intellectuals propagated their ideas through their literary works under the leadership of R.W Emerson. This paper upholds all parallelisms in American Transcendentalism and Advaita Vedanta.
