Sense of balance

The sense of balance, functionally based on the vestibular system, is one of the twelve physical senses Rudolf Steiner spoke of in his theory of the senses. It enables us to perceive our posture and helps us to orientate ourselves in space. The central organs of the sense of balance are the vestibular system with its three semicircular canals in the inner ear and the centre of equilibrium in the cerebellum (vestibulocerebellum). Other senses, namely visual perception, and reflexes also play a role.

The three semicircular canals of the vestibular system are also of decisive importance for mathematical aptitude:

„Now, in man, mathematical talent depends preferably on the three canals in the middle ear which have something to do with equilibrium, and there is for man a kind of connection between this organ in the ear and between the whole nervous system constituting the spinal cord. For when man makes mathematical judgments, we can see that he is much more of a spectator than is usually believed. Mathematical judgements are much more self-made, and man is more a kind of automaton, especially in the field of mathematics. That is why it is one of the peculiarities of mathematics that one really has the urge to make the whole of mathematics into a kind of automaton. You only count to ten in our number system, then you count the tens and so on. In this way, all arithmetic is inwardly automated. There really is an inner regularity in the numbers that is bound to the Earth in a kind of mathematical automatism. In man this automatism does not have such a strong effect, because man is lifted out of this automatism and the power of judgement nevertheless steps in and holds down the whole mathematical automatism.“ (Lit.: Contributions 114-115, p. 66)

Literature

• Rudolf Steiner: Kosmologie und menschliche Evolution. Einführung in die Theosophie – Farbenlehre, GA 91 (2018), ISBN 978-3-7274-0910-3
• Rudolf Steiner: Anthroposophie – Psychosophie – Pneumatosophie, GA 115 (2001), ISBN 3-7274-1150-3 English: rsarchive.org German: pdf pdf(2) html mobi epub archive.org
• Beiträge zur Rudolf Steiner Gesamtausgabe, Heft 114/115: Rudolf Steiner und der mehrdimensionale Raum, Dornach 1995 Beiträge (Contributions) 114-115

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.