Transcendental Meaning

Transcendental

Definitions and Meaning in English

1. Relating to or involving a concept or experience that goes beyond ordinary experience or perception, often referring to spiritual or philosophical matters.
2. Concerned with the nature of reality as it goes beyond the physical world, especially in metaphysical contexts.
3. In philosophy, describing knowledge or experience that is independent of the senses or experience, often linked to idealism or other abstract ideas.
4. Referring to a state of being that surpasses the limitations of the human experience or understanding.

History and Origin

The word “transcendental” comes from the Latin transcendere, meaning “to climb over” or “to surpass,” from trans- meaning “across” and scandere meaning “to climb.” It was first used in English in the 17th century in a philosophical context, referring to concepts that exceed the limits of ordinary understanding. The term gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly with the Transcendentalist movement in America, which emphasized the importance of intuition, nature, and the spiritual dimension of human experience.

Detailed Explanation

“Transcendental” is primarily used to describe things that go beyond the usual limits of human experience, understanding, or perception. In philosophy, particularly in Immanuel Kant’s work, “transcendental” refers to knowledge that is independent of sensory experience or empirical observation. In a broader, spiritual sense, it denotes experiences or realities that surpass the physical world, often alluding to divine or higher states of being. The Transcendentalist movement in the 19th century emphasized personal spiritual experiences and the connection between nature and the divine as transcendent experiences.

Example Sentences

1. The philosopher’s ideas about reality were transcendental, focusing on concepts beyond the physical world.
2. The artist sought to capture the transcendental beauty of nature in her paintings.
3. Many Transcendentalists believed that personal intuition and spiritual insight could reveal transcendental truths.
4. The novel explores themes of transcendental love and the connection between all living things.
5. Meditation can lead to transcendental experiences that reveal a deeper understanding of existence.
6. The musician’s composition seemed to transport listeners to a transcendental state of mind.
7. The idea of a transcendental soul is central to many religious philosophies.
8. The transcendental nature of the universe is often discussed in metaphysical and spiritual texts.
9. His pursuit of transcendental knowledge led him to explore Eastern philosophies.

Synonyms with Short Explanation

1. Metaphysical – Pertaining to the fundamental nature of reality, beyond physical and sensory experiences, similar to transcendental ideas.
2. Spiritual – Relating to the soul, spirit, or religious matters, often used to describe transcendental experiences.
3. Abstract – Referring to concepts that are not grounded in the physical world, akin to transcendental philosophy.
4. Otherworldly – Existing or happening outside the physical world, much like transcendental concepts.
5. Supernatural – Beyond the laws of nature, often used to describe experiences that are transcendental in nature.

Related Words with Short Explanation

1. Enlightenment – A state of spiritual awakening or insight, often linked to transcendental experiences in religious or philosophical contexts.
2. Idealism – A philosophical view that reality is mentally constructed, related to transcendental thinking in the context of the mind and perception.
3. Intuition – The ability to understand something instinctively, without the need for conscious reasoning, often a key aspect of transcendental philosophy.
4. Ascendancy – The state of rising above or surpassing, similar to the idea of transcendence in reaching higher levels of understanding.
5. Nirvana – A transcendental state of bliss or liberation, particularly in Buddhist philosophy, representing the ultimate transcendence from suffering.

More Matches with Short Explanation

1. Ethereal – Extremely delicate or light, often used to describe something transcendental in nature.
2. Divine – Relating to a deity or supreme being, often used in a transcendental context to describe spiritual experiences.
3. Celestial – Pertaining to the heavens or the divine, linked to transcendental ideas of the beyond.
4. Sublime – Of such excellence or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe, sometimes associated with transcendental experiences.
5. Mystical – Relating to the mysteries of the universe, often used to describe transcendental experiences or insights.

Antonyms

1. Materialistic
2. Earthly
3. Physical
4. Concrete
5. Worldly