The standard definition of intuitionism (especially in epistemology and ethics) generally refers to immediate, self-evident knowledge that does not require logical reasoning or empirical evidence. However, Rudolf Steiner’s "Cognitive Intuitionism" in The Philosophy of Freedom is fundamentally different in both method and application.
1. Standard Intuitionism (Common Definition)
- Epistemology (Knowledge Intuitionism) → Truths are grasped immediately and self-evidently, often seen as innate (e.g., mathematical axioms or logical principles).
- Ethical Intuitionism → Moral truths are known intuitively, without needing justification through reason or experience (e.g., G.E. Moore’s concept of "good" as an indefinable quality).
- Passivity → Intuition is often seen as spontaneous or given, rather than something developed through active effort.
2. Steiner’s "Cognitive Intuitionism" (The Philosophy of Freedom)
- Thinking as an Active Process → Intuition is not just an instinctive flash of knowledge but the result of a highly developed, self-sustained cognitive process.
- Pure Thinking as the Source of Intuition → Instead of relying on external perception or innate knowledge, Steiner sees intuition as arising from clear, disciplined thinking that directly perceives reality.
- Moral Intuition as Self-Determined Ethics → Instead of treating moral truths as fixed, Steiner emphasizes that true morality is created through the individual’s own moral imagination, guided by intuitive insight.
- Freedom and Individuality → Unlike traditional intuitionism, which often assumes universal moral or logical truths, Steiner’s approach allows for individual creativity in knowledge and ethics, making it an essential path to freedom.
Key Differences
| Aspect | Standard Intuitionism | Steiner’s Cognitive Intuitionism |
|---|---|---|
| Source of Knowledge | Innate, immediate self-evidence | Active, disciplined thinking |
| Role of Thinking | Secondary or unnecessary | The primary means of intuition |
| Moral Truths | Universal and pre-existing | Individually discovered and created |
| Development | Passive (intuition simply "happens") | Requires cultivation of cognitive capacities |
| Freedom | Assumes fixed truths | Creates moral and cognitive freedom |
Steiner’s Cognitive Intuitionism is an active, self-determined path of cognition where intuition arises through developed thinking, rather than being an innate or spontaneous insight. This makes it a radically free and individually cultivated approach to both knowledge and ethics, distinguishing it from traditional intuitionism.
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