Transcendentalism: The Light We Cannot SeeChesterton once said: “Transcendentalism […] has primarily the position of the sun […] We are conscious of it as of a sort of splendid confusion. […] But the circle of the moon is as clear and unmistakable, as recurring and inevitable, as Euclid's circle on a blackboard. These words sum up the rationale for the anti-transcendentalist argument: although individuals seek transcendentalism, it can never truly be achieved or, to compare with the "sun", seen. On the contrary, they inevitably turn attention to the “moon”, a clear reflection of transcendentalism – that is, individualism – and forget the responsibilities of society. Emerson introduced the philosophy of transcendentalism in his essay Nature, teaching that divinity permeates all of nature and humanity. However, even though Emerson claims that transcendentalism is beneficial, I believe that transcendentalism is harmful because it isolates the individual, prescribes their rebellion, and assumes their perfection. Three key teachings make up the transcendentalist philosophy. The first teaches: Without individualism, the responsibilities of the family and the obligations of the community restrict the ability of each person to unabashedly pursue their passions. This is the reason why philosophy acquired its appeal; Simply put, transcendentalism appeals to the egocentric within every person by justifying their selfish desires. For the transcendentalist, the individual is not selfish; he simply protects himself from societal obligations. Rather, it is society that is selfish, depriving the individual of their ability to realize their greatest potential.