philosophical movement, and transcendentalism a nineteenth-century one. Not only

is Henry David Thoreau's Walden Pond an existentialist work, but by examining the

similarities and interrelations between existentialist thought and Walden, we can

understand Thoreau's purpose in writing it. Walden Pond is not a treatise on nature,

nor a manual on how to live one's life, but rather a kind of how-to guide for those

interested in finding their own personal truth. This is a common theme in

existentialist works. Despite the label of transcendentalist, Thoreau is primarily an

existentialist, as made clear by the similarities between his writings and

philosophies and those of the great existentialists.

Existentialism is a particular branch of philosophical thought that stemmed from a

reaction against the works of Georg Friedrich Hegel. Hegel thought that he had

worked out a complete philosophical system by which all thought worked, including

the exact innerworkings of the metaphysical man. While most existentialists found

Hegel's attempts at a unified philosophical worldview unpalatable, they did agree

with his concept of the dual components of mankind. According to

uncertainty principle, Thoreau acknowledges that mankind's knowledge was first

Walden, "which, as it were, is not a part of me, but a spectator, sharing no

Existentialists realized the futility of the quest for truly objective observation.

Existentialists felt that, because one is in control of his consciousness and

keeping awake, noticing things, seeing things, and with your eyes only" (Leary 18).

Spoke Zarathustra: a how-to guide for those seeking their own truth. Zarathustra,

there is the superman, become like him, but, Behold, I have searched for myself; I

consciousness and corresponding observation of facticity. Individual observation,

"I learned this, at least, by experiment; that if one advances confidently in the

find their own reality, truth, and fundamental existence. Thoreau requested that

intentions with the work. A superficial examination of Thoreau reveals him to be the

not play life, or study it merely, but earnestly live it from beginning to end" (39).

Rather than even attempt this fission of existence, priority was placed on the living

deliberately," he remarks "to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could

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Approximate Word count = 1354
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)