Philosophy of FreedomWritten in 1894 (CW 4) Are we free, whether we know it or not? Is any notion of individual freedom merely an illusion? Steiner tackles these age-old questions in a new and unique way. He shows that, by considering our own activity of thinking, we can realize the reasons for everything we do. And if these reasons are taken from the realm of our ideals, our actions are free, because only we determine them. The question of freedom cannot be settled by philosophical argument. Nor is it simply granted to us. If we want to be free, we must work through our own inner activity to overcome unconscious urges and habitual thinking. To accomplish this, we must reach a point of view that recognizes no limits to knowledge, sees through all illusions, and opens the door to an experience of the reality of the spiritual world. Then we can achieve the highest level of evolution--we will recognize ourselves as free spirits. This volume is a translation of Die Philosophie der Freiheit (GA 4) from German by Michael Wilson. |
Contents
Preface to the revised edition of 1918 | 1 |
Conscious Human Action | 11 |
The Fundamental Desire for Knowledge | 21 |
Thinking in the Service of Knowledge | 29 |
The World as Percept | 47 |
The Act of Knowing | 67 |
Human Individuality | 88 |
Are there Limits to Knowledge? | 94 |
Philosophy of Freedom and Monism | 146 |
World Purpose and Life Purpose | 155 |
Moral Imagination Darwinism and Morality | 161 |
The Value of Life Optimism and Pessimism | 173 |
Individuality and Genus | 200 |
The Consequences of Monism | 207 |
Appendix | 218 |
Notes | 227 |
Other editions - View all
The Philosophy of Freedom: The Basis for a Modern World Conception Rudolf Steiner Limited preview - 2013 |
The Philosophy of Freedom: The Basis for a Modern World Conception Rudolf Steiner Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
able absolute abstract appears arises assertion become believes belong brain cause characterological disposition colour connection consciousness critical idealism desire determined driving force dualist Eduard von Hartmann element ethical existence experience experienced expression external fact free spirit German given gives grasped human action illusion instincts intuitive thinking knowledge laws live means of thinking mental picture merely metaphysical realism monism moral ideas moral imagination motive naive realism natural law nature of thinking object observation one's ourselves Owen Barfield particular perceiving percept and concept person Philosophy of Freedom point of view present principle purpose quantity of pleasure question reality realization recognize regard relation relationship Robert Hamerling RUDOLF STEINER Schopenhauer seek sensation sense organs soul sphere Steiner striving thing-in-itself things thought transcendental transcendental idealist true unfree Viktor Frankl Whoever whole words world of ideas world of percepts