American Romanticism Vocab

Morality

The condition of being subject to death

Immorality

Enduring life or influence beyond death

Idealism

Belief that reality is ultimately spiritual or mental, not physical

Materialism

The belief that only physical matter and possessions have value

Intuition

Immediate insight or understanding that arises without conscious reasoning

Rationalism

Belief that truth is discovered primarily through logic and evidence

Revelation

A sudden insight or unveiling of truth

Mystery

That which lies beyond full human understanding

Trancendence

Rising beyond physical limits to grasp spiritual or eternal truth

Immanence

The presence of the divine within the material world

Alienation

Isolation from others, nature, or ones own moral center

Communion

Profound unity or spiritual connection with others or the divine

Individualism

Faith in the moral and creative authority of the individual

Universality

The shared human truths that connect all people

Innocence

Moral purity or naivity before knowledge of evil

Corruption

Moral decay or betrayal of conscience

Introspection

Self-examination of motives, beliefs, and moral choices

Conformity

Yielding to social pressure or established norms