Anthroposophy: the heart and soul of science — and of perception.

 

Rudolf Steiner:  "When we stand in front of a person and look at her or him with our physical eyes, we get an impression of that person's outer physiognomy. This impression is incomplete. We see the whole person only when our own heart and soul can see into that person's soul and spirit. We cannot see the whole person with our physical eyes, nor can we perceive the cosmos and humankind in their totality if we apply exclusively exoteric modes of perception. To perceive soul and spirit in the cosmos, we need an initiate's perception, not the consciousness supplied by exoteric perception. We must become convinced of this fact. Only then will we strive to meet the true needs of the human soul by complementing the great advances of the exoteric natural sciences (whose contributions anthroposophy acknowledges whole-heartedly) with modes of perception that reveal soul and spirit within the cosmos and within human beings. Anthroposophy is intended to supplement and support exoteric modes of perception with inner, spiritual perception. Just as a complete view of any human being must encompass not only the person's exoteric existence but also the soul within, so, too, anthroposophy hopes to be the soul and spirit, the inner aspect, of modern perception as a whole."

Source: April 14, 1922. The Sun Mystery, p. 110. GA 211