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Steiner's most important work I think this website can take some credit for the bold text pronouncement as we have been broadcasting this message since 2005. Before that, the standard repeated message was that The Philosophy Of Freedom was one of 4 basic books of Anthroposophy that also included Theosophy, Knowledge Of The Higher Worlds, and Occult Science. Wilder Publications is a rogue publisher that is not controlled or associated with Anthroposophy. For them to proclaim The Philosophy Of Freedom to be "Steiner's most important work" means that this has become part of main stream public knowledge established outside of the PR outlets of Anthroposophy. Mission accomplished!
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Why is it Steiner's most important work?
The next point that needs to enter the public domain is why it is Steiner's most important work? Anthroposophy's talking points always direct the attention away from the freedom philosophy, and directs it toward Steiner's later clairvoyant spiritual science, Anthroposophy. Whenever the philosophy is mentioned the talking point is,
"The Philosophy of Freedom forms the philosophical basis for his later writings." (later writings are Anthroposophy) wiki link
This statement is the death of any interest in The Philosophy Of Freedom. Nobody wants to read an abstract philosophy that gives you nothing other than philosophical support for something else.
The title was even changed to Intuitive Thinking As A Spiritual Path to make it sound more spiritualistic.
It is about science, ethics and how to change the world
If you read the book you find that it is about science, attaining certainty in knowledge rather than belief in doctrines, groups or spiritual leaders. It is about ethical individualism and how to change the world. It is not abstract philosophy but gives descriptions of cognitive processes and life experiences that lead one to free thinking and free action. Rather than being told what to think by an organization, it shows how to stand on your own feet and think for yourself.
The Philosophy Of Freedom is written in an individualist anarchist mood that emphasizes the individual and their will over external determinants such as groups, society, traditions, and ideological systems. This is obvious in the original first chapter, "The Goal Of Knowledge" that Steiner considered the preface. Is this why any institution or leadership would surely have little interest in this book?
Its not about clairvoyance
There is nothing to be found in it to directly support the clairvoyant ability to perceive spiritual worlds, and certainly nothing to support the content of Anthroposophy. You can make a stretch by calling the intuition commonly involved in acquiring knowledge "clairvoyance".
The link that is commonly made to relate it to Anthroposophy is the recognition of a non-physical universal world of ideas that could open the possibility of some kind of higher knowledge. This is true. True, just as the discovery of quantum randomness opens the possibility of free will. My point is that its support of Anthroposophy is not why The Philosophy Of Freedom is Steiner's most important work.
It is a philosophy of life
Most people (99.999%?) will never have an interest in understanding the philosophical basis of Anthroposophy, but each of us have a life and we want a better world. In 1918, while immersed in Anthroposophy, Steiner gives the intended purpose,
"The purpose of The Philosophy Of Freedom is to lay the foundations of ethical individualism and of a social and political life." link
This is the point that this website (philosophyoffreedom.com) will be declaring to the world until it becomes part of the public domain of knowledge. This is something that will bring The Philosophy Of Freedom the interest it deserves.
Comments
I've been visiting this website for some time now with great interest. I am not a native english speaker, but I do feel I need to add some content. Sorry if some of my thoughts are not clearly formulated.
Regarding the new translation.
Paraphrasing a friend of mine: "The poor germans have to deal with only one version of POF (e.g. the one and original german) whereas english and other nationalities have a selection of different translations to read. The "joke" here is that even the "Original German POf" is a translation of Steiners spiritual experiences into a linguistical form, the spiritual content, the actual meaning of the whole book is completely independent from language. Once the content of POF becomes the fuel of meditation which of course presupposes clear thinking (e.g. not touching language) most of the translations become good enough. Or if not one can find the actual mistakes by looking at the linguistical expressions from the universal source. Even the german version has some "mistakes" believe it or not.
I hope this also clarifies why a better translation can help meditation. Keep up the good work!
Regarding POF vs Anthroposophy.
I don't think there is an anthroposophist who would think in their right mind that POF is not related to the later Steiner ouvre. However, we must be able to confront the very idea of POF while experiencing it; otherwise, we fall into its bondage.(~from the last sentence in POF) If this is true its even more true for the books using imaginary language.
Not being able to grasp the "clear concept" of "clear concept" inevitably leads to huge problems when trying to grasp the concept of an angel or the spiritual evolution of earth. And thats where we find the appalling drama of the Anthroposophical Society. Thats why the world perceives anthroposophy as a peculiar and rather ridicuolos form of superstition and nothing more.
I think anthroposophy will soon dissappear -for maybe a couple of hundred years-, as today there isn't enough people who would bother to go through the rigorous mental training. The idea will never disappear of course but it will need a free individuality to take up the task.
Very nicely stated, thanks.
Good one Wilder Publications! The book needs to get out there, along with 'Truth and Knowledge' I might add.
Keep up the good work philosophyoffreedom.com!!