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Anthroposophy, also called spiritual science by its founder Rudolf Steiner, is an attempt to investigate and describe spiritual phenomena with a precision and clarity approaching that with which natural science investigates and describes the physical world. Steiner described his approach as "soul-observations using scientific methodology". His ideas have their roots in the flowering of Germanic culture that resulted in the transcendent philosophy of Hegel, Fichte and Schelling, on the one hand, and the poetic and scientific works of Goethe, upon whom Steiner draws heavily, on the other. Steiner was also profoundly influenced by two seminal philosophers of the existential school, Franz Brentano and Wilhelm Dilthey, upon whose works both Edmund Husserl and Ortega y Gasset built. Steiner's purely philosophical early work led him through the consciousness of thinking itself into an increasingly explicit treatment of spiritual experience:

"Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge to guide the Spirit of the human being to the Spiritual in the universe. It arises in man as a need of the heart, of the life of feeling: and it can be justified inasmuch as it can satisfy this inner need." Rudolf Steiner Steiner, Rudolf, Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts. London: Rudolf Steiner Press, (1924) 1998.

The word anthroposophy is derived from the Greek roots anthropo meaning human, and sophia meaning wisdom. (Anthroposophy should not be confused with anthropology, the empirical study of human cultures.)

History


In his early twenties, Steiner was asked to edit Goethe's scientific writings for a major publication of that writer's complete works. In the course of this work, Steiner began publishing various works that foreshadowed his later ideas, but were still set within the philosophical and scientific framework of his age: chiefly Goethe's Conception of the World and his commentaries on Goethe's scientific essays. His first work, Die Philosophie der Freiheit (translated variously as The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity, The Philosophy of Freedom, or Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path), was published when he was in his early thirties. Steiner created a concept of free will that was strongly founded upon inner experiences, especially those that occur in independent thought, without any explicit references to the nature of these experiences. His first reference to 'anthroposophy' dates from this early period.

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directory of related sites

anth.org - Hosting of projects such as Ifgene, News Network Anthroposophy and Moving Word Theatre.

Anthroposophy in Sydney - Includes activities in the Sydney region, message boards, program for the Tuesday night lectures, articles, initiatives, links, information for membership and the Steiner Bookshop.

Awakenings - Anthroposophy and Goethean science. The entire astronomy cycle by Rudolf Steiner consisting of eighteen lectures.

404 First Steps in Seeing Truly - Rudolf Steiner on the first steps in inner development. An excerpt from the 1905 lecture wtitten as an introduction to the 1999 English translation. Commercial page for Cygnus Books.
Meta Description: [ Reverence, a fundamental condition for spiritual development, from First Steps in Inner Development by Rudolf Steiner ]

404 From Gnosticism to a Contemporary Spirituality - Sarah Benson gives a personal account of esoteric Christianity beginning with the Gnostics, and concludes that Rudolf Steiner's Anthroposophy is a modern day embodiment of the genuine Christ message.
Meta Description: [ Living with Spirit - Stories Online ]

Goetheanum Dornach - Represents the headquarters of the Anthroposophical Society in Dornach, Switzerland. Web tour of the building, introduction to Rudolf Steiner, cultural events, and library.
Meta Description: [ In der Juralandschaft, 10 km südlich von Basel, erhebt sich auf dem Dornacher Hügel das Goetheanum. Als Zentrum der weltweit tätigen Anthroposophischen Gesellschaft hat es die Aufgabe, ein freies Kultur- und Geistesleben zu pflegen. ]

Monas: Anthroposophy - Brief article from the E-zine Monas.

New Vision of Christ - Excerpt from a lecture on the new vision of Christ by Dr. Rudolf Steiner.

Outlaw Anthroposophy - A very different look at the practice of Anthroposophy.

Planetary Qualities - Rudolf Steiner's view on the planets and their qualities. An illustrated introduction to the anthroposophically oriented new astronomy

Principles of Psychosomatic Physiology - The first description by Steiner of man as a threefold being and the basic relation between thinking, feeling and willing and the three organ systems of the human body.

Reincarnation and multi-culturalism - Multi-cultural Aspects of Reincarnation Studies: A presentation by Rabbi Yonassan Gershom at the Institute for Discovery Science, Las Vegas, May 1997. Some questions for anthroposophists.
Meta Description: [ Text of a symposium speech by Rabbi Yonassan Gershom, author of Beyond the Ashes, in Las Vegas 1997, on cultural issues regarding interpretation of past-life materials. ]

Rudolf Steiner's Planetary Seals - Illustrations of Steiner's seven planetary seals with an animation showing their transitions.

Skylark Books - Anthroposophy, Homoeopathy and Bach Flower Remedies - Over 200 Rudolf Steiner books plus other anthroposophical authors, Healing Herbs Bach flower remedies, remedy sets and storage boxes, plus homoeopathic remedies and books available on-line.
Meta Description: [ Bach Flower Remedies, Anthroposophy Books by Rudolf Steiner, astrology books and software (Solar Fire 6), homeopathic remedies, homoeopathy books and Weleda products. ]

500 Sparkle in Eyelight - Lines on The Evolution of Consciousness from the pages of Owen Barfield. Various writings by one of the most prominent anthroposophists in the world.
Meta Description: [ These passages offer an introduction to the mind of Owen Barfield, an intense mind focused with tenacity on the Evolution of Consciousness. ]

Spirit Working in Life - Contemporary U.S. work based on Anthroposophy -- the spiritual science of Rudolf Steiner -- including Waldorf Education, Biodynamic Agriculture, Camphill Communities, and Anthroposophic Medicine.
Meta Description: [ The Spirit Working through Humanity: waldorf education, Rudolf Steiner, biodynamic agriculture, eurythmy, anthroposophical medicine, camphill, finance, social issues, adult education, drama, media. ]

Spiritual Science Review - The italian anthroposophist Bruno Abrami's English language webpage with assistance from Mark Willan. Clairvoyance and chakras, beautiful graphics.

Terry Boardman Homepage - Anthroposophical essays on varied subjects with the aim of contributing to an awakening of human thinking to the meaning of the times in which we live.

The Archives of Stanley Messenger - Seven anthroposophical articles by the mystic, philosopher, cereologist, metaphysician, and elder Stanley Messenger of Glastonbury
Meta Description: [ The Archive of Stanley Messenger ]

The Bee - Dedicated to problems dealing with the relation between 'natural science' and 'spiritual science.'
Meta Description: [ ´The Bee - home page´, dedicated to problems dealing with the relation between ´natural science´and ´spiritual science´ ]

The Bible and Anthroposophy - The Insights of Rudolf Steiner as explained by Edward R. Smith.
Meta Description: [ Bible and Anthroposophy: The Work of Edward Reaugh Smith, Rudolf Steiner, and the Bible ]

The Jaerna Bridge - Info from and about the anthroposophic community in Jaerna, Ytterjaerna and Sweden, with links to anthroposophy worldwide.
Meta Description: [ Introduction to The Jaerna Bridge pages - Info from and about the anthroposophic community in Jaerna, Ytterjaerna and Sweden. ]

The Mystica: Anthroposophy - Comprehensive article on Anthroposphy.

404 Vermont Sophia Web Pages - Anthroposophy, Tomberg, and Catholicism, including correspondence with Marie Steiner. Esoteric Christianity, spiritual geometry, Christian hermeticism, and meditations on the Sepher Yetzirah.

Youth Section - The Youth Section organizes seminars, study groups and international conferences throughout the world; it supports initiatives, facilitates internships, and conducts research on global youth issues.
Meta Description: [ The Youth Section organizes seminars, study groups and international conferences throughout the world; it supports initiatives, facilitates internships, and conducts research on global youth issues. ]

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