Anthroposophy and Science

This book is the first thorough introduction into the scientific basis of anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine in the context of academic science. On a sound epistemological basis and in the context of current debates it analyses basic concepts of physics, chemistry, genetics, morphogenesis, biology, neurobiology, psychology, and philosophy of mind, with an emphasis on the problems of life, mind-body interactions, and free will. The result is a non-reductionistic anthropology acknowledging the emergent properties of body, life, soul, and spirit as equally real entities. This concurs with the basic concepts of anthroposophy and anthroposophical medicine, the justification of which is discussed in relation to the history and methodology of science as well as evidence based medicine.

Auteur

Peter Heusser is a medical doctor with a comprehensive experience in practicing, teaching and research in anthroposophical medicine, first at the University of Bern and in Swiss national research projects. He is now Professor for the Theory of Medicine, Integrative and Anthroposophical Medicine, and Head of the Institute for Integrative Medicine at Witten/Herdecke University, Germany.

Contenu

Contents: Truth and reality - Ontological idealism and emergence - Self-organisation and causality in physics, chemistry, biology, neurobiology, psychology, philosophy of mind - Body, life, soul, spirit as real entities - Anthroposophy as an empirical spiritual science - Its relation to natural science and academic medicine.