What does anthroposophy mean?
Definitions for anthroposophy
ˌæn θrəˈpɒs ə fian·thro·pos·o·phy
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word anthroposophy.
Princeton's WordNet
anthroposophynoun
a system of beliefs and practices based on the philosophy of Rudolf Steiner; it claims to integrate the practical and psychological in child-centered education
Wiktionary
anthroposophynoun
Human wisdom; knowledge or understanding of human nature.
anthroposophynoun
A spiritual movement inaugurated by Rudolf Steiner (also capitalized as Anthroposophy).
Etymology: from a Renaissance Latin anthroposophia (attested in Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, d. 1535 and Thomas Vaughan, d. 1666), popularized from the 1910s via German Anthroposophie (Rudolf Steiner, 1861–1925).
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Anthroposophynoun
The knowledge of the nature of man.
Etymology: ἄνϑϱωπος, man, and σοφία, wisdom.
Wikipedia
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy is a spiritualist movement which was founded in the early 20th century by the esotericist Rudolf Steiner that postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world, accessible to human experience. Followers of anthroposophy aim to engage in spiritual discovery through a mode of thought independent of sensory experience.: 3–11, 392–5 While much of anthroposophy is pseudoscientific, proponents claim to present their ideas in a manner that is verifiable by rational discourse and say that they seek precision and clarity comparable to that obtained by scientists investigating the physical world. Anthroposophy has its roots in German idealism, mystical philosophies, and pseudoscience including racist pseudoscience. Steiner chose the term anthroposophy (from Greek anthropo-, 'human', and sophia, 'wisdom') to emphasize his philosophy's humanistic orientation. He defined it as "a scientific exploration of the spiritual world", Others have variously called it a "philosophy and cultural movement", a "spiritual movement", a "spiritual science", or "a system of thought". Anthroposophical ideas have been employed in alternative movements in many areas including education (both in Waldorf schools and in the Camphill movement), agriculture, medicine, banking, organizational development, and the arts. The main organization for advocacy of Steiner's ideas, the Anthroposophical Society, is headquartered at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. Anthroposophy's supporters include writers Saul Bellow, and Selma Lagerlöf, painters Piet Mondrian, Wassily Kandinsky and Hilma af Klint, filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, child psychiatrist Eva Frommer, music therapist Maria Schüppel, Romuva religious founder Vydūnas, and former president of Georgia Zviad Gamsakhurdia. Several prominent members of the Nazi Party were supporters of anthroposophy and its movements, including Erhard Bartsch (an agriculturalist), SS colonel Hermann Schneider, and Gestapo chief Heinrich Müller. Rudolf Hess, the adjunct Führer, was a patron of Waldorf schools. The Deputy Führer was also a staunch defender of Steiner's biodynamic agriculture. The historian of religion Olav Hammer has termed anthroposophy "the most important esoteric society in European history".Many scientists, physicians, and philosophers, including Michael Shermer, Michael Ruse, Edzard Ernst, David Gorski, and Simon Singh have criticized anthroposophy's application in the areas of medicine, biology, agriculture, and education to be dangerous and pseudoscientific. Some of Steiner's ideas that are unsupported or disproven by modern science, including: racial evolution, clairvoyance (Steiner claimed he was clairvoyant), and the Atlantis myth.
ChatGPT
anthroposophy
Anthroposophy is a philosophical and spiritual movement that was founded by Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century. It is based on the idea that humans can gain objective understanding of the world through spiritually guided self-development. Anthroposophy aims to bridge the gap between the spiritual and the physical world by integrating science and spirituality. Its applications can be seen in various fields including Waldorf education, biodynamic agriculture, anthroposophic medicine, and social finance.
Webster Dictionary
Anthroposophynoun
knowledge of the nature of man; hence, human wisdom
Etymology: [Gr. 'a`nqrwpos man + sofi`a wisdom, knowledge.]
Wikidata
Anthroposophy
Anthroposophy, a philosophy founded by Rudolf Steiner, postulates the existence of an objective, intellectually comprehensible spiritual world accessible to direct experience through inner development. More specifically, it aims to develop faculties of perceptive imagination, inspiration and intuition through cultivating a form of thinking independent of sensory experience, and to present the results thus derived in a manner subject to rational verification. In its investigations of the spiritual world, anthroposophy aims to attain the precision and clarity attained by the natural sciences in their investigations of the physical world. Anthroposophical ideas have been applied practically in many areas including Steiner/Waldorf education, special education, agriculture, medicine, ethical banking, organizational development, and the arts. The Anthroposophical Society has its international center at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland.
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Anthroposophy
an-thrō-pos′o-fi, n. the knowledge of the nature of men: human wisdom.—n. Anthropos′ophist, one furnished with the wisdom of men. [Gr. anthrōpos, man, and sophia, wisdom.]
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Anthroposophy
Knowledge of the nature of man. A spiritual and mystical doctrine that grew out of theosophy and derives mainly from the philosophy of Rudolph Steiner, Austrian social philosopher (1861-1925). (Webster, 3d ed)
Matched Categories
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of anthroposophy in Chaldean Numerology is: 9
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of anthroposophy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1
Popularity rank by frequency of use
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"anthroposophy." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 8 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/anthroposophy>.
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