The Essential Nature of the Human Being / 1 credit
The course The Essential Nature of the Human Being provides the student with an in-depth study of Steiner's view of the human as a being of body, soul, and spirit. It introduces the different aspects of the human being: the physical body, the etheric body, the astral body, and the ego, and how they relate to each other and the world. This course is based on Steiner's book "Theosophy" and is essential to an understanding of the human being, of children, and of child development.
“The Corporeal Nature of Man. We learn to know man's body through bodily senses, and the manner of observing it cannot differ from the way in which we learn to know other objects perceived by the senses. As we observe minerals, plants and animals, so can we also observe man. The Soul Nature of Man. Man's soul nature as his own inner world is different from his bodily nature. When attention is turned to even the simplest sensation, what is personally his own comes at once to the fore. Thus no one can know whether one person perceives even a simple sensation in exactly the same way as another. The Spiritual Nature of Man. The soul nature of man is not determined by the body alone. Man does not wander aimlessly and without purpose from one sensation to another, nor does he act under the influence of every casual incitement that plays upon him either from without or through the processes of his body. He thinks about his perceptions and his acts. By thinking about his perceptions he gains knowledge of things. By thinking about his acts he introduces a reasonable coherence into his life. He knows that he will worthily fulfill his duty as a man only when he lets himself be guided by correct thoughts in knowing as well as in acting.” (from chapter 1 of Theosophy by Rudolf Steiner)
“The Corporeal Nature of Man. We learn to know man's body through bodily senses, and the manner of observing it cannot differ from the way in which we learn to know other objects perceived by the senses. As we observe minerals, plants and animals, so can we also observe man. The Soul Nature of Man. Man's soul nature as his own inner world is different from his bodily nature. When attention is turned to even the simplest sensation, what is personally his own comes at once to the fore. Thus no one can know whether one person perceives even a simple sensation in exactly the same way as another. The Spiritual Nature of Man. The soul nature of man is not determined by the body alone. Man does not wander aimlessly and without purpose from one sensation to another, nor does he act under the influence of every casual incitement that plays upon him either from without or through the processes of his body. He thinks about his perceptions and his acts. By thinking about his perceptions he gains knowledge of things. By thinking about his acts he introduces a reasonable coherence into his life. He knows that he will worthily fulfill his duty as a man only when he lets himself be guided by correct thoughts in knowing as well as in acting.” (from chapter 1 of Theosophy by Rudolf Steiner)
1 credit course. Duration: 2 months.
The Essential Nature of the Human Being / 1 credit
Lesson 1: The Essential Nature of the Human Being/Body, Soul and Spirit/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (I., II., III.)
Lesson 2: The Essential Nature of the Human Being/Physical Body, Etheric Body, Astral Body and Ego/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. Part 1)
Lesson 3: Body, Soul and Spirit/Life Phases/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. Part 2)
Lesson 4: Reflection and Final Paper
Sample Lesson
Lesson 2: The Essential Nature of the Human Being/Physical Body, Etheric Body, Astral Body and Ego/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. Part 1)
Lesson 3: Body, Soul and Spirit/Life Phases/Theosophy/Chapter 1 (IV. Part 2)
Lesson 4: Reflection and Final Paper
Sample Lesson