Anthroposophy and Ecofascism 41

Continuing my commentary on the 12th paragraph of Peter Staudenmaier's Anthroposophy and Ecofascism.

That Steiner did actually call Anthroposophy a science, and was at pains to claim that it could be "verified by reason, logic, and scientific inquiry is evident from the following three quotes.

Rudolf Steiner, from the preface to “How to Know Higher Worlds”:

“Naturally, to research these facts one must possess the faculties necessary to enter supersensible worlds. But once these worlds have been researched, and the findings communicated, even those who have not themselves perceived the facts can form an adequate judgment of them. Much of what spiritual science presents can, in fact, be easily verified by the application of healthy judgment in a completely unbiased way.”

Rudolf Steiner, How to Know Higher Worlds, New York 2002, page 8

Or from the Preface to the English edition of “Theosophy”:

“There may be those who say that this supersensible world can only have significance for such as already have the power to perceive it, but this is not so. There is no need to be a painter in order to feel the beauty of a painting, yet only a painter can paint it. In the same sense it is unnecessary to be a researcher in the supersensible in order to judge the truth of the results of supersensible research.”

Rudolf Steiner, Theosophy, New York 1971, page xv

From the Introduction to “Theosophy”:

“Certain powers are required to discover the things referred to [the contents of the book], but if after having been discovered they are made known, every person can understand them who is willing to bring to them unprejudiced logic and a healthy sense of truth. ... Put yourself for a moment in the position of asking, 'If the things asserted here are true, do they afford a satisfying explanation of life'? You will find that the life of every man supplies a confirmation.”

Rudolf Steiner, Theosophy, New York 1971, pages xx – xxi