Science

Four epochs of science:
                 childish,
          poetic, superstitious;
                 empirical,
          inquiring, curious;
                 dogmatic,
          didactic, pedantic;
                     idealistic,
          methodical, mystical.

Goethe: Maximen und Reflexionen

Science (from Latin: scientia "knowledge, insight into a thing, skill, thorough knowledge"; Middle High German: wizzen[t]schaft, from Indo-European: *u̯e(i)d or *weid- "to behold, to see" and Old High German: scaf(t) or skaf(t) "nature, order, plan, rank", in this sense: "order of knowledge") - literally, therefore, that which creates knowledge - comprises, according to the current view, research and teaching. Research, in contrast to accidental discovery, is based on the deliberate methodical search for new knowledge, combined with the systematic documentation of the methods used and the results thus obtained and their publication in scientific works. Teaching consists of passing on the resulting knowledge in a mostly institutionalised framework. If one follows the tradition of thought or the working method of an important predecessor, a scientific school is formed.

People who systematically devote themselves to the further development of science are called scientists and in their totality form the worldwide scientific community (also called research community). The scientific discourse within the scientific community is of decisive importance. Scientists usually have a completed academic education and usually, but not necessarily, carry out their work professionally, but there are also private scholars or private lecturers and amateur scientists.

According to Rudolf Steiner's understanding, anthroposophy is a spiritual science equivalent to the natural sciences, which, however, in contrast to the academically cultivated humanities, is not limited to the cultural achievements of man, but primarily aims at an empirical investigation of the spiritual world. The scientific nature of anthroposophy is still often doubted by academically researching scientists. However, now that serious esoteric research has been established, a fruitful dialogue with the anthroposophical community has also begun.

Literature

• Ludwik Fleck, Thomas Schnelle (Hrsg.), Lothar Schäfer (Hrsg.): Entstehung und Entwicklung einer wissenschaftlichen Tatsache: Einführung in die Lehre vom Denkstil und Denkkollektiv, Suhrkamp Verlag 1980, ISBN 978-3518279120
• Josef Honerkamp: Wissenschaft und Weltbilder, Springer Verlag 2015, ISBN 978-3-662-43953-1, eBook ISBN 978-3-662-43954-8
• Josef Honerkamp: Was können wir wissen? Mit Physik bis zur Grenze verlässlicher Erkenntnis, Springer Verlag 2013, ISBN 978-3-8274-3051-9, eBook ISBN 978-3-8274-3052-6
• Lars Jaeger: Wissenschaft und Spiritualität. Universum, Leben, Geist – Zwei Wege zu den großen Geheimnissen, Springer Verlag 2017, ISBN 978-3-662-50283-9, eBook ISBN 978-3-662-50284-6
• Rupert Sheldrake, Jochen Lehner (Übers.): Der Wissenschaftswahn: Warum der Materialismus ausgedient hat. O. W. Barth Verlag, München 2012, ISBN 978-3-426292105
• Christian Kreiß: Gekaufte Wissenschaft: Wie uns manipulierte Hochschulforschung schadet und was wir dagegen tun können, tredition 2020, ISBN 978-3347132580; eBook ASIN B08GSPKDF7
• Rahel Uhlenhoff (Hg.): Anthroposophie in Geschichte und Gegenwart, Berliner Wissenschafts-Vlg., Berlin 2011
• Gerhard Kienle, Herbert Hensel, Karl-Ernst Schäfer: Wissenschaft und Anthroposophie, Urachhaus-Verlag, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 978-3878386094
• Marek B. Majorek: Rudolf Steiners Geisteswissenschaft: Mythisches Denken oder Wissenschaft?, 2 Bände, Verlag Narr Francke Attempto, Tübingen 2015, ISBN 978-3772085635, eBook: ASIN B0714F4N5R
• a:Peter Heusser: Anthroposophie und Wissenschaft: Eine Einführung. Erkenntniswissenschaft, Physik, Chemie, Genetik, Biologie, Neurobiologie, Psychologie, Philosophie des Geistes, Anthropologie, Anthroposophie, Medizin, Verlag am Goetheanum, Dornach 2016, ISBN 978-3723515686
• Peter Heusser, Johannes Weinzirl: Rudolf Steiner: Seine Bedeutung für Wissenschaft und Leben heute, Schattauer Verlag 2013, ISBN 978-3794529476, eBook ASIN B07N91XPKK
• Rudolf Steiner: Einleitungen zu Goethes Naturwissenschaftlichen Schriften, GA 1 (1987), ISBN 3-7274-0011-0 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Grundlinien einer Erkenntnistheorie der Goetheschen Weltanschauung.8. Auflage. Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach 2002, ISBN 3-7274-0020-X English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Wahrheit und Wissenschaft, GA 3 (1980), ISBN 3-7274-0030-7 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Mein Lebensgang, GA 28 (2000), ISBN 3-7274-0280-6; Tb 636, ISBN 978-3-7274-6361-7 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Tod und Unsterblichkeit im Lichte der Geisteswissenschaft, GA 69d (2017), ISBN 978-3-7274-0694-2 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Rudolf Steiner: Geisteswissenschaftliche Menschenkunde, GA 107 (1988), ISBN 3-7274-1070-1 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org

References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated. Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com. Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English. Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA) Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.