Transcendentalism

Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement descended from gnosticism that advocates for humanity and human philosophy to expand beyond the Stereoma. Instead of seeing transcendental mechanisms as alterations of reality and the Astatoma as something outside of reality, they see both as intrinsic parts of reality. Most transcendentalists believe in a past Halcyon Age, where the separation of the Stereoma from the Astatoma by the Veil did not exist. Most advocate a return to these conditions or a progression towards something similar. While most recognize the danger this presents, there are more or less extreme views within the milieu on what this objective demands.

Dreaming of finding a way for humanity to break through the Veil and become masters of the Astatoma, many transcendentalists write and create art to explore their ideas. Protoporia is an art movement founded in part on the transcendentalist ideal.

There are many different paths towards transcendence proposed within the movement. Inspired by gnosticism, the transcendental arts are reimagined as a means of moving beyond the Veil and the Stereoma. Some, though, believe that individual humans alone cannot affect their desired goals. Instead, mass will is necessary to throw off humanity's chains.

There is a significant overlap between transcendentalism and radical politics. Many libertarians and communists are transcendentalists, seeing the Veil as yet another cage holding humanity in, even as it protects them. There is also a significant transcendentalist milieu within the echelarist movement. In particular, Aretism is a synthesis of echelarism and transcendentalism.