Steiner's trinitarian view and the philosophy of mind: A critique of Kuhn's landscape of consciousness taxonomy.
Terje Sparby, Torbjørn Eftestøl, Markus Lindholm, Even Lynne, Ulrich Weger, Friedrich Edelhäuser
Acta Psychologica July 1, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.107015 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Anthroposophy Consciousness Mind Steiner Taxonomy |
| Key points | Argues that Steiner's philosophy is trinitarian, not dualist, and that this challenges Kuhn's taxonomy of philosophies of mind. |
Abstract
In a recent taxonomy of different philosophies of mind, Robert Lawrence Kuhn classified Rudolf Steiner's view as a mind-body dualism. We argue that this classification is incorrect. Rather, Steiner's view is trinitarian and represents a unification of monism and dualism. Hence, the trinitarian conception of the human being in Steiner not only challenges Kuhn's taxonomic placement of Steiner's view but also, by showing that monism and dualism may not be exclusive, indicates a potential fundamental limitation of the whole taxonomy. Furthermore, since other thinkers (such as Whitehead, de Chardin, and others) may potentially be classified as trinitarian, Kuhn's taxonomy arguably needs revision. In fact, the dualism vs. monism and related debates mirror limitations in current ways of thinking. The trinitarian view offers a different approach to "the hard problem of consciousness", understanding the differentiation between mind and body, and the philosophical problems that arise from this differentiation, as part of human development.
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| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cites 3
- Theories of consciousness. Nature Reviews Neuroscience July 1, 2022
- Body, Soul, and Spirit: An Explorative Qualitative Study of Anthroposophic Meditation and Spiritual Practice Religions June 26, 2020
- It’s Like Growing Roots inside Something Deeply Familiar: An Explorative Qualitative Study of Anthroposophic Mantra Practice and the Subsidiary Exercises Religions August 16, 2018