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Steiner, Rudolf (1861-1925)
Austrian
philosopher, scientist, artist and educator who was the originator of the social
philosophy called Anthroposophy.
A Christianized version of Theosophy, this
doctrine declares that humans have a faculty of spiritual cognition, or
pure thought, which functions independently of the senses.
Anthroposophy strives for the most effective development of this faculty.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Steiner
began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to
meticulous research of psychological and spiritual phenomena. His versatile
genius has led to revolutionary and holistic approaches in medicine,
philosophy, religion, education, special education, economics, agriculture,
science, architecture, and the arts.
Steiner founded the
Anthroposophical Society in 1912,
which
now has branches throughout the world, and is especially popular in Britain. He traveled
at length in Europe lecturing on spiritual science, social sciences, religion,
the arts, education, agriculture and health. His published works amount to
more than 350 titles,
including collections of lectures, books, articles, reviews and dramas. His occult
philosophy is outlined in key titles such as
Knowledge of the
Higher Worlds and Its Attainment (1904-05), and
An Outline of
Occult Science (1909), and he is especially known for his
work on
Goethe’s scientific writings.
Steiner's teachings inspired the development of the
Waldorf School movement and of schools for handicapped or maladjusted children (the
Camphill movement); his agricultural
methods for preparing soil inspired chemical-free organic farming and gardening
(biodynamics); he
created
eurythmy, a form of expressive movement to music and speech; and his guidelines on
holistic medicine and pharmacology are still broadly respected today.
See
Atlantis, Lemuria,
Theosophy, Anthroposophy,
The Tarot Store,
Divination & Scrying Tools and
Supplies, and
Journal For Walford Rudolf Steiner Teachers.
Sources: (1) Steiner,
Rudolf,
Autobiography: Chapters
in the Course of My Life, Steiner Books;
(2)
Dictionary of the
Occult, Caxton
Publishing.
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