anthroposophy

[ an-thruh-pos-uh-fee ]

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.

anthroposophy

/ 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

Derived Forms

• anthroposophic, adjective
• ˌanthroˈposophist, noun

Other Words From

• an·thro·po·soph·i·cal [an-thr, uh, -p, uh, -, sof, -i-k, uh, l], anthro·po·sophic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthroposophy¹

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

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

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

They included the extreme occultist theosophy of Russian writer Helena Blavatsky and the more sober version found in the anthroposophy of Austrian social reformer Rudolf Steiner.

From Los Angeles Times

Based on the principles of anthroposophy, the latter was founded in Scotland in 1939.

From The Guardian