Transcendentalist ralph waldo emerson encouraged people a. involve themselves in reforming society. b. reject all social legislation. c. become less self-reliant. d. look to formal religions for profound truths.

So, a transcendentalist is someone who prefers to see women and men both as obtaining knowledge that is beyond what they see, touch, hear, feel, etc. They think this knowledge comes from imagination and some form of intuition. 

The best answer is "A" involve themselves in reforming society. 

Emerson wanted to reform society in a new way of thinking, not just religiously. He wanted to give people a new perspective, that most knowledge comes from being creative and imaginative, rather than on logic or logical thinking.

I hope this helps!
~kaikers