A Study of Rudolf Steiner’s Thoughts on the Relationship Between Man and Nature and Its Application in Waldorf Education

• Main Authors: Hsu Po Yuan, 徐泊源
• Other Authors: Lin Su Hwa
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/55188375847889202203

碩士 === 國立臺中教育大學 === 科學應用與推廣學系環境教育及管理碩士班 === 102 === How human beings treat nature is accelerating the deterioration of natural changes, leading unbearable pain to human beings themselves. Through decades of rational reflection, it is discovered that the top nature killer is the living style nowadays. Narrow-minded value and lazy human nature weakens the relationship between man and nature. Though various methods were attempted to change human behavior and call for action, the result was limited. Besides rational reflection, an awakening spiritual force is gradually forming into shape for people to re-value the long-term relationship with the nature and re-open human’s narrow-minded conscious. Today, the interaction between man and nature requires both rational reflection and spiritual awakening, and education is the best pathway to achieve both. Alternative education is more open and tolerance than standard education. Waldorf Education is developed based on human nature; apart from the indispensable element- nature, it emphasizes human’s experience, values feeling, and rational thinking. It is believed that true freedom can be found in the spiritual field, which can be an inspiration to fix the relationship between man and nature. This research aims to analyze the educational text and relevant data of Rudolf Steiner, the founder in Waldorf Education, through Danner’s educational hermeneutics and literature review in the hope to discuss the application of the relationship between man and nature in Waldorf Education. Nature plays an important role in Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy; he had abundant natural experience in his whole life, no matter tangible or non-tangible. Goethe, Schelling and Schopenhauer had great impact on establishing his idea about nature. Steiner believes that man’s conscious in the center of nature concept; man living in a natural organic world with four bodies, three worlds, and close relationship with animals, plants and minerals. Today material plane means everything, man need a knowledge harmonising with the spirit enable them to feel nature like ancestry having. It’s a stage of application in Waldorf Education. Man unconsciously becomes a part of the natural system, and then feel the artistic of nature, and further finds man’s position in the natural system consciously. This is how nature takes part in human’s long-term learning process and leaves a profound relationship in humans’ lives. The application in Waldorf Education and the education of man and nature can embraced each other.