RUDOLF STEINER, A PROPHET OR A CHARLATAN? INFLUENCE OF THEOSOPHICAL-ANTHROPOSOPHICAL THOUGHT ON CONTEMPORARIES

Abstract

The paper seeks to critically present the eccentric philosopher Rudolf Steiner and to point out his influence on famous contemporaries such as Albert Schweitzer, Christian Morgenstern, Hermann Hesse and Franz Kafka. Unlike the ruling positivist approach and scientific rationalism, which he believed could only reach the apparent form of things, this Austrian thinker created his own system, based on a synthesis of Western philosophy of idealism, Christianity and Hindu teachings with Gnosticism, which he called anthroposophy. Above all, he wanted to point out the possibility of overcoming the limits of empirical knowledge and encourage contemporaries to use their latent potentials on the path of spiritual cognition. With this teaching, he managed to attract many supporters, at least for a while, especially those in search of a deeper understanding of reality and prone to self-analysis. Steiner claimed that he had first supernatural experiences and unusual cognitions early on, and as a result of these he became aware of the existence of two parallel worlds: An external, material one, accessible to the senses and known to all, and another, otherworldly and spiritual, which was equally real for him. Misunderstood by those around him and declared an odd character, he withdrew and devoted himself to science.