Skeptiker, antroposofer & vetenskapen: En religionsvetenskaplig studie över Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning respektive den antroposofiska rörelsens maktkamp om waldorfpedagogik och antroposofisk medicin
2019 (Swedish)Independent thesis Advanced level (professional degree), 10 credits / 15 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
The study maps out the ramifications and the structure of the debate between the Swedish Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning (The Swedish Skeptics' Association) and the Swedish anthroposophical movement regarding Waldorf pedagogy and anthroposophical medicine. Extra attention was given to the debate around the current closing of Vidarkliniken, Sweden’s only hospital based on anthroposophical medicine. Through argumentation analysis supported by semi structured interviews, the study shows the most prevalent arguments and stances of both sides of the debate. The results also show how the two opposite stances correlates with the theoretical framework of secularism, postsecularism as well as expansionism versus restrictionism regarding the boundaries of science. After analyzing twenty-one argumentative articles from both sides of the debate, the study arrives at the conclusion that both sides argue to be are representatives of modern science and mostly use scientific arguments to convince the reader of their position. The Swedish Skeptics' Association argue that Waldorf pedagogy is not in line with modern science due to its roots in the ideas of Rudolf Steiner. This while the anthroposophical movement refers to scientific studies that show the Waldorf pedagogy’s remarkable positive effects on pupils’ development and learning, as an example. Both sides do however have a different definition of the limits and aspects of science. The anthroposophical movement take a more expansionist approach, though expressed in different ways, while The Swedish Skeptics' Association are advocates for restrictionism regarding the boundaries of science. The anthroposophical movement tend to argue for themselves as being avant-garde of modern science, working to include more free and holistic perspectives. The Swedish Skeptics' Association argue for themselves as guardians of the scientific method and the ideals of the enlightenment. To that end, The Swedish Skeptics' Association argue that they protect science from becoming undermined by belief-based decisions. The anthroposophical movement sees the sceptics agenda as rudimentary and limiting to science and freedoms that citizens desire.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2019. , p. 54
Keywords [sv]
Antroposofi, skeptiker, expansionism, restriktivism, holism, helhetssyn, reduktionism, postsekularism, antroposofisk medicin, waldorfpedagogik, Föreningen Vetenskap och Folkbildning, Vidarkliniken, waldorflärare, debatt om vetenskap, vetenskapens gränser, sekulariseringstesen.
National Category
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-38383OAI: oai:DiVA.org:sh-38383DiVA, id: diva2:1326096
Subject / course
The Study of Religions
Uppsok
Humanities, Theology
Supervisors
Examiners
2019-06-182019-06-172025-10-07Bibliographically approved