Question

In this excerpt from Walden by Henry David Thoreau, what can be inferred about where transcendentalist thinkers searched for divinity?

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. Nature and humanity

Explanation:

Transcendentalism is a philosophical perspective that proposes knowledge, innate human goodness and nature are the elements necessary to search for divinity or know the truths of life.

One of the philosophers that supported this idea was Henry David Thoreau, in the excerpt Thoreau highlights the importance of nature and humanity in this philosophical perspective. For example in "I got up early and bathed in the pond; that was a religious exercise" the author shows the importance of the connection with nature to transcend. Additionally, in the excerpt, there are references to knowledge and important figures in this area as in "It was Homer's requiem; itself an Iliad and Odyssey" which highlights the importance of humanity and knowledge in transcendentalism. Thus, it can be inferred transcendentalists thinkers searched for divinity through nature and humanity.