Can there be such a discipline as the science of
philosophy? What convinces us of the truth of a certain point of
view? Why do we find it difficult to comprehend viewpoints that
differ from our own? What are the inner foundations for our
knowledge?
In these concentrated and aphoristic lectures, Rudolf
Steiner demonstrates how there are twelve main philosophical
standpoints and that fruitful progress in philosophy depends not upon
defending one and refuting others but in learning to experience the
validity of them all. An appreciation of the variety of possible
world views not only sharpens and makes more flexible our own powers
of thinking but also overcomes a narrow-minded one-sidedness and
promotes tolerance and understanding of other people and their
opinions.
Steiner goes on to show how our standpoint is also
coloured by a particular ‘;soul mood’ which influences the
way one actively pursues knowledge. Several philosophers and their
works are characterised in this manner, throwing a remarkable light
upon their contribution to philosophy.
Through such insight into the true nature of human
thinking we are led to understand the nature of cosmic thought and of
how the human being can be seen as a ‘;thought which is thought
by the Hierarchies of the cosmos’.