Intellect

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The intellect (from Latin: intellectus 'cognitive faculty', 'insight', 'mind') refers to the human ability to grasp something mentally. It is the instance in man that is responsible for cognition and thinking. "Intellect" is often used as a synonym for "mind" and understanding, but can also have the meanings "reason", "consciousness" or "spirit". A person who, supported by the intellect, more or less frequently expresses analytical or critical views on contemporary issues is commonly classified as an intellectual. The lord of the intellect is Ahriman: "He is a knower, a sage of death. He is therefore also the lord of the intellect." (Lit.:GA 211, p. 111)

The intellect as a necessary basis for a modern understanding of the spirit

The modern intellect, which we owe to Lucifer, is the last diluted remnant, seized by Ahriman, of the old dreamlike atavistic clairvoyance. As such, however, it forms precisely the indispensable basis for contemporary spiritual cognition. Only when one trains one's thinking on the contents of spiritual science conveyed in clear intellectual language can one attain to one's own fully conscious spiritual experiences.

„In ancient times men had clairvoyant revelations and they did not understand them; they learned to understand them only later. Today man must first understand, must exert his intellectuality, must exert his intellect, and if he exerts it through what is available in spiritual science, then humanity will again develop towards the clairvoyant reception of the spiritual. However, this is something that most people still want to avoid today: to use their common sense in order to understand spiritual science. If one wanted to avoid it, one would also want to avoid letting the spiritual revelations into our earthly world at all.“ (Lit.:GA 195, p. 63)

Literature
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.
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