Final answer:
The symbol that illustrates the transcendental view of reality is Plato's upward pointing gesture, representing the realm of eternal truths and higher Ideas that supersede the material world.
Step-by-step explanation:
A symbol that illustrates the transcendental view of reality is the upward pointing of Plato as a representation of the higher, eternal reality that he believed was the seat of all truth, beauty, justice, and wisdom. The transcendentalists, including figures like Henry David Thoreau, focused on concepts like self-reliance and the inherent goodness of both humans and nature, seeking a mystical connection with the universe beyond material existence. They advocated for the primacy of inner spiritual experience over purely rational or sensory evidence, and their ideas were deeply influenced by the idealistic philosophy of Plato and Immanuel Kant.
Plato's philosophy and the transcendental movement both place a strong emphasis on ideas and the mind. For instance, in geometry, the concept of a perfect circle exists as an idea, even though it cannot be perfectly represented in the physical world, reflecting the transcendentalist belief in an ideal reality beyond the physical. In summary, the upward pointing by Plato is not just a specific gesture but symbolizes the entire realm of higher Ideas and eternal truths believed to surpass the material world's shadows and changes.