Systematic anthroposophy

From Anthroposophy

This site initiative has a link with the 'idea' of a comprehensive systematic approach to spiritual science, and this page provides some background.

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The term 'systematic anthroposophy, was first coined by Maximilian Rebholz in 1936 when he published the book 'Zur Systematik der Geisteswissenschaft'. His writings, also the essays he published later in the form of newsletters, are clearly the result of in-depth study of the work of Rudolf Steiner. Rebholz tackled the study of certain subjects in a systematic way, and his essays used excerpts from Rudolf Steiner's lectures which are concatenated to support a reasoning logic and logical pathway or didactic storytelling.

Before Rebholz, others had taken such an integrative approach to Steiner's work, and it's deep personal study. Examples are Adolf Arenson (1855-1936) and Carl Unger (1878-1929).

Later on, Oskar Kuerten became inspired by Rebholz' approach and followed in his footsteps, to let meaning come from the words of Rudolf Steiner himself by organizing the most meaning-filled quotes and excerpts in a way that this organization could lead to further insights. Another student of Steiner where the imaginative insights are clear as the result of such study is Iwer Thor Lorenzen. On the side: Interestingly, neither Rebholz or Lorenzen are well known in anthroposophical circles. The FMC project translated the works of both authors in English, ready for publication (see more in the PDF Project FMC - SoSoG and Study Volumes - 2016-2021)

In summary, key ingredients that can be recognized are:

  • integrating multiple perspectives offered in the GA and Rudolf Steiner's thousands of lectures (supplemented by other sources)
  • connecting the dots (mentally, as soul work during study) and, as a way to present the fruits of that work, placing the essential contents in a logical organization conveying insight
  • all-in-all an approach requiring serious and disciplined study and rigour, as without extensive study (deep and wide) the above is not possible. An integral part of this process is 'living with questions', as understanding has to grow and mature with time as it ripens in the soul.


To see how Rudolf Steiner himself repeatedly stressed the importance of this approach, please read the various quotes where he points to how and why one needs to do so: Notes on the study process#On integration.

This also provides an explanation for the FMC schemas on this site (see also FMC study schemas and FMC enrichment)

The essence of the above is that this systematic study is a soul process and leads one to insights (and into the realm of imagination - see Study process and developing imaginations), rather than to intellectual understanding of dry rational thoughts.

Aspects

Inspirational quotes

1919-04-05-GA190, full lecture see: Current fifth cultural age#1919-04-05-GA190

Now something most remarkable is present in our time. How often is it said when reference is made to anthroposophical spiritual science: yes, but this has a systematic interconnection, this is complicated, one must do a lot of thinking about it!

Illustrations

Lecture coverage and references

Maximilian Rebholz - 1936

introduction to his book ' Zur Systematik der Geisteswissenschaft' (in EN 'Systematic Spiritual Science), (SWCC)

This book summarizes a few aphoristic results of my study of Rudolf Steiner's spiritual-scientific work. Although the essays handle the various topics of supersensible research independently from each other, they all have a common inner emphasis, i.e. knowledge of the working of the Gods in the human being, and the problem of freedom within this working of the Gods. It has been attempted here, through a suitable arrangement and presentation of the themes, to emphasize this inner connection and the many contrapuntal relationships between these themes, so that the content of this book may nevertheless be considered to be one coherent whole.

Rudolf Steiner indicated the fundamental truths, which constitute, as it were, the spiritual 'skeleton' of this wonderful perceptive organism, which he then developed as anthroposophy, more and more, in all directions, on the basis of those fundamental truths. Now, it may at first seem as though a few of the themes handled in this book cannot in fact be considered as the most fundamental ones. However, certain intimate truths, which the spiritual scientist could speak of – or even only indicate - only after a long preparation, become highly significant through an advanced study of anthroposophy. Thus, just as new, more awesome vistas open up before the eyes of the wanderer in the mountains, whenever he reaches a new peak, so too, in the process of studying the teachings of spiritual science, certain aspects of the problem of knowledge receive a central significance, which perhaps cannot be considered elementary, yet nevertheless can be seen as belonging to the system of spiritual science.

This clearly expresses the fact, that these essays can in no way constitute an introduction to anthroposophical spiritual science, but rather, they assume prior fundamental study of it on the reader's part.

The method of the present work can be characterized as creating an overview of the various statements of the spiritual researcher about a certain object of supersensible knowledge. It is not only the immeasurable fullness and form of the knowledge given by spiritual science in itself, which calls for such a method, but it was also a requirement often expressed by Rudolf Steiner, to really succeed in creating such an overview, and thereby, through comprehensive work for knowledge, to add the various presentations, which often seem to contradict one another, and weave them into a complete living whole:

"One can never look at the truths about the higher worlds from too many aspects. One should realize that from any one aspect it is possible to give only the poorest sketch. And when one looks at the same thing from the most diverse aspects, the impressions one receives in this way only gradually complement each other to form an ever more animated picture. Only such pictures, not dry, schematic concepts, can help the Man who wants to penetrate into the higher worlds."

(GA011, From the Akasha Chronicles, Life of Earth)

He who has experienced even just the beginnings of such a work for knowledge, either by oneself or through what others have achieved in that regard, knows the uplifting and fruitful results that such work can yield. Not only do the viewpoints thus brought together mutually shed light upon one another, but since we are dealing here not with theories but with descriptions of realities, there may [often] appear new perceptions, which hitherto have not been expressed directly by the spiritual researcher, and which in their turn may shed new light on entire areas of spiritual science.

However, these essays do not strive to present a complete and comprehensive study of the available materials, but are meant to be considered and evaluated only as aphoristic attempts in the direction indicated.

For the purpose of better explaining and giving and overview of the often complicated facts and conditions, a schematic graphic presentation was used here and there. Since by using of such schematic means, one runs the risk - due to misunderstanding this graphic presentation by perceiving it too anxiously - of falling into a "rigid schematism", I beg leave to quote from a lecture by Rudolf Steiner:

"It is good, not to look at the things in the way in which they present themselves in the course of our lecture cycles, but we should also bring the various things into a relationship with each other… If you assemble all that has been presented so far regarding spiritual science in our lectures, then you would be able to draw this scheme yourselves. All you have to do is to make an effort, not only to read on, one thing after another, but to try to connect the things that were presented in the lecture. One can draw many such schemes oneself, according to the existing course material, and this is very useful. For in processing the material given in the lectures in such a way, one progresses from outwardly absorbing what had been taught, to inwardly processing it. This inner processing is highly valuable for making real progress… Firstly, because it diminishes mere speculations about the content of those lecture cycles, and secondly, because through making such a compilation, one can truly evolve inwardly."

(1915-01-09-GA161)

These sentences describe best the purpose of the present essays too. Despite all its deficiencies – which will almost inevitably become apparent to the one who knows the difficulties of such a work - they also hope to challenge and encourage the reader, who strives in this direction, to continue his research and work for knowledge.

Discussion

Related pages

References and further reading

  • see mainly the other related topic pages on this site (as listed on this page), and their 'further reading' sections
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