Rudolf Steiner was a scientist, philosopher, mystic, artist, architect, and spiritual leader who sought to reconcile opposing elements. He founded Waldorf education, which aims to develop the whole child, and developed anthroposophy, a mystical system that emphasizes the spiritual dimension of the world. Anthroposophy holds that there are four parts that make up the whole individual human being: physical body, etheric body, astral body, and ego. Anthroposophy has been successfully applied in many aspects of practical human life and is promoted by the Anthroposophy Society to restore human dignity, happiness, and freedom.
Rudolf Steiner was born in Croatia in 1861 and died in 1925. He is best described as an eclectic individual. During his lifetime Steiner was highly regarded as a scientist, philosopher, mystic, artist, architect and spiritual leader. For many people, the titles of both scientist and spiritual leader, or mystic and philosopher, for example, may seem at odds with each other. However, during his lifetime Steiner sought to reconcile opposition and influenced millions to incorporate these elements into their lives and into their children’s education comprehensively.
Steiner is probably best known as the founder of Waldorf education. As a young man, he was asked by a prominent cigarette factory owner if it was possible to educate young people so that they would grow up to maintain a peaceful society. Steiner thought it was possible and set out to develop a unique educational philosophy; he soon applied it to teaching the children of the factory owner’s employees.
Waldorf education developed by Steiner, aims to develop the whole child by educating the heart, hands and head. Steiner’s goal was to incorporate and emphasize the importance of the arts and spirituality, as well as academics, at an appropriate time based on the child’s stage of development. With this method, the person would ideally emerge as a free thinking, creative, spiritual and intellectual being.
Steiner also developed what is called anthroposophy, which means wisdom of the human being. Anthroposophy is a mystical system which generally involves the study of spiritual science. Contrary to modernism or a materialistic worldview, Steiner believed that the spiritual realm of the world was the primary and transcendent truth to physical phenomena. As such, any task to be undertaken successfully must first consider its spiritual dimension.
Anthroposophy, as developed by Steiner, holds that there are four parts that make up the whole individual human being. First there is the physical body, which is the material form of the human being. All other animals, plants, rocks and minerals also have a physical body. The second part is the etheric body which includes sensations, emotions, breath and, in general, the difference between a living and a dead being. Plants and other animals also have an etheric body. Thirdly, human beings have an astral body which can be roughly equated to the soul. Steiner thought that plants and other animals had an astral body as a collective group as opposed to the individual astral body in each human being. The fourth part is the ego which Steiner thought was present only in the human being; the highest form of creation. Ego includes self-awareness, the ability to self-reflect, and the ability to attain human freedom.
The ideas behind anthroposophy have been successfully applied in many different aspects of practical human life. It is practiced in medicine, education, agriculture, architecture, banking, treatment for the mentally handicapped, and more. The Anthroposophy Society, founded by Rudolf Steiner is still active today, promoting his view that a study and application of the spiritual aspect of human beings is desperately needed to restore the human dignity, happiness and freedom that was victimized by a materialistic worldview.
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