Transcendentalism Vocab

Quintessential

representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.

Espouses

to adopt or endorse

axiom

a statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true

aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

Aphorism Examples

- “It is better to be mistaken than to be wrong.”
- “Absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
- “With great power comes great responsibility.”

Civil Disobedance

is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power.

archaic

very old or old-fashioned

pendantry

excessive concern with minor details and rules

paradox

a statement that seems to say two opposite things but that may be true -

lucid

expressed clearly; easy to understand

pretense

“putting on an act”

allusion

a cultural reference

Antimetabole

A phrase of a sentence is repeated but in reverse order.

Asyndeton

the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of the sentence

objectivism archetype

Rand dramatized her ideal man, the producer who lives by his own effort and does not give or receive the undeserved, who honors achievement and rejects envy.

Anarchism

a political philosophy that advocates self-govern societies with voluntary institutions. An anarchist would be one who rejects the idea of an overarching state and wants the government to be abolished.

Libertarianism

a political philosophy that upholds liberty as its principal objective. Libertarians seek to maximize autonomy and freedom of choice, emphasizing political freedom, voluntary association, and the primacy of individual judgment. In the United States, libertarian ideology permits a very high level of authority and domination but in the hands of private (corporate) power: so private power can be unleashed to do whatever it likes. Far right

vis-a-vis

in relantionship

Over- Soul

Emerson proposes that every human has at his core a soul which is connected to every other soul

empirical

based on, concerned with, or verifiable by observation or experience; evidence-based; practical

transcend

be or go beyond the range or limits of (something abstract, typically conceptual field or division).

Republicans

Value a small government, one “that can fit your packet” so to speak. . By and large the party opposes large, “bloated” federal institutions. Such “reckless” spending and allocation of resources limits the agency of citizens and impedes upon the natural liberties of man, or so the argument goes. Republicans are quick to tout their aversion to high taxes and commitment to fiscal responsibility.

Democrats

Value a substantial government, one that- in theory works for the people to “even the playing the field” and place protective barriers against racial prejudice environmental exploitation and abject poverty. Many in the party want to promote a government that works toward providing prosperity for all its citizens, through equitable access to healthcare, education, and other basic services. Democrats are quick to tout the diversity of their party and the sprawling public works projects under their belts.