anthroposophy

American  

[an-thruh-pos-uh-fee] / ˌæn θrəˈpɒs ə fi /

noun

1. a philosophy based on the teachings of Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) which maintains that, by virtue of a prescribed method of self-discipline, cognitional experience of the spiritual world can be achieved.

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anthroposophy British  

/ ˌænθrəˈpɒsəfɪ, ˌænθrəpəʊˈsɒfɪk /

noun

1. the spiritual and mystical teachings of Rudolph Steiner, based on the belief that creative activities such as myth making, which formed a part of life in earlier times, are psychologically valuable, esp for educational and therapeutic purposes

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Other Word Forms

• anthroposophic adjective
• anthroposophical adjective
• anthroposophist noun

Etymology

Origin of anthroposophy

From the German word Anthroposophie, dating back to 1910–15. See anthropo-, -sophy

Example Sentences

She also became a leading adherent to anthroposophy, a spiritualist movement built around the idea of being able to gain a perception beyond the physical world.

From Washington Post • Mar. 11, 2023

For much of her life, Ms. Lafrenz was a follower of the theories of anthroposophy developed by the Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2023

She was a leading figure in the American anthroposophy movement.

From New York Times • Mar. 10, 2023

But, she adds, Kandinsky, Mondrian and Malevich were all influenced by contemporary spiritual movements such as theosophy and anthroposophy too, as they sought to transcend the physical world and the constraints of representational art.

From The Guardian • Oct. 6, 2020

Supersensible knowledge: anthroposophy as a demand of the age—anthroposophy and the ethical-religious conduct of life.

From U.S. Copyright Renewals, 1970 July - December by Library of Congress. Copyright Office