Bronson Alcott
From Philosopedia
Alcott, Amos Bronson (1799—1888)
Alcott was an American educational and social reformer who founded the Temple School in Boston. He was a leading exponent of transcendentalism, although he differed with others by being opposed to any doctrine of individualism. His philosophy, mediating between the extreme idealistic and materialistic positions, was summed up in the term Personalism. A Unitarian, he believed that all seemingly separate minds are linked together by a common relation to a central Mind—that is, as he said, “all souls have a Personal identity with God and abide in Him.”
Carlyle looked upon him indulgently as a man “bent on saving the world by a return to acorns and the golden age.” Emerson said, “As pure intellect I have never seen his equal.” Thoreau agreed, adding that Alcott was “the sanest man I ever knew.” In 1859, Alcott became superintendent and reformed the Concord, Massachusetts, schools, introducing the teaching of singing, dancing, reading aloud, and such novel subjects as physiology.
His work in education culminated in the Concord School of Philosophy (1879—1888), which had a profound influence on education through his disciple W. T. Harris and others. Although he lived much of his life in poverty, he was supported by his daughter, Louisa May Alcott, who in 1868 earned money by publishing Little Women, a work based on her family life.
