The Rudolf Steiner Archive

109. Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Findings, and Its Scientific Basis. Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Value for Humanity, and Its Relationship to Art and Religion

[ 1 ] One man's speech is not just one man's speech,
You have to listen to them all.

[ 2 ] If there is one word that can serve as a motto for Dr. Steiner’s two lectures, it is this. Today, in particular, we are in the midst of a battle for public opinion on the subject of anthroposophy, and recently a great many pamphlets—some large, some small; some serious, some superficial—opposed to anthroposophy have appeared; it is therefore entirely justified that Dr. Steiner should once again speak out to address the—in some cases—direct falsehoods contained in these writings.

[ 3 ] In his first lecture, Dr. Steiner builds on the university courses in Dornach; these were intended to demonstrate how anthroposophically oriented spiritual science can have a fruitful impact in all fields of science. However, this event has produced some rather peculiar results: due to the enormous influx of participants from all sides—and especially from abroad—certain circles have gradually begun to sense the significance of this movement, and many have felt called upon to warn the world against this spiritual orientation. This is how those writings and articles came into being—all of which, with varying degrees of commitment to the truth, launch attacks against anthroposophy. But what is the true nature of these writings? A German professor of philosophy argues in a newspaper article that anthroposophy lacks any ethical foundation whatsoever. A licentiate in theology, on the other hand, examines anthroposophy in a brochure over 200 pages long and concludes that it at least represents a worldview based on ethical principles. How does this all fit together?

[ 4 ] Following these remarks, the speaker then imperceptibly transitions to the actual topic: “Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Findings, and Its Scientific Basis.” The natural sciences have established a methodological discipline that no one who wishes to be taken seriously may violate today. Anthroposophy works with these methods; indeed, it even expands upon them in order to reach beyond the limits at which modern science must stop. But this irritates certain people; it makes anthroposophy seem intolerable to them, for they do not want to admit that they have not yet learned everything there is to know. And now Dr. Steiner briefly explains what he discusses in detail in his book, How Does One Attain Knowledge of Higher Worlds?—namely, the development of the soul’s faculties through concentration and meditation. In conclusion, he points out that anthroposophy is frequently accused of addressing the educated laity directly, bypassing the relevant specialized sciences. Certainly it does so, but only since the specialized sciences have ignored anthroposophy. One must simply assert the truth, no matter what path is taken.

[ 5 ] On Friday evening, Dr. Steiner spoke on “Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Value for Humanity, and Its Relationship to Art and Religion.” Some of these were ideas he had already expressed in his books Esoteric Science and The Riddles of the Soul, in which he discusses humanity’s relationship to the world. In conclusion, Dr. Steiner once again referred to one of those polemical writings; the author says of the Christ statue currently under construction in Dornach that it displays “Luciferic traits at the top and animalistic features at the bottom.” In reality, however, there is a human face at the top, and the lower part has not even been carved out yet. Such untruths, however, are certainly capable—just like the contradictions mentioned above—of casting a peculiar light on the thoroughness of these people.

[ 6 ] In collaboration with the Zurich Anthroposophical Society, Dr. Rudolf Steiner of Dornach gave an extremely interesting lecture last Monday evening in the auditorium of the Hirschengraben School on “Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Findings, and Its Scientific Foundations.” The university courses on anthroposophical spiritual science, which took place this year at the Goetheanum in Dornach, were primarily intended to introduce a wider audience to the ideas of this new teaching. Everyone should be able to reform their activities according to anthroposophical principles. One distinguished critic saw in Steiner’s theory the foundation of a powerfully conceived ethical view of life—a philosophy of living. Anthroposophical spiritual science is strictly scientific in character. It does not in any way seek to dispense with what has made today’s natural science-oriented disciplines so great over the past four centuries. It also aims to be accountable to the natural scientific way of thinking in the strictest sense. It deals with things that human beings must reckon with, but which lie beyond the sensory world. Steiner quotes a statement by the great philosopher Kant: “In every field, there is actually only as much real science as there is mathematics to be found in it.” Mathematics brings something into science that is, in every respect, independent of external observations. A mathematical observation that is found in nature imparts a sense of certainty that cannot be destroyed by thousands of skeptics. Anthroposophical spiritual science is based on such an inner method, which is modeled in the strictest sense on the mathematical treatment of nature. Through meditation on things, one arrives at an understanding that mathematics itself could not present more transparently or clearly. Human beings should feel liberated from the chains of physicality and be able to surrender to complete spiritual freedom. The auditorium was packed; a stimulating discussion deepened the understanding of anthroposophical spiritual science.

[ 7 ] On the evening of Wednesday, December 8, Dr. Rud[olf] Steiner from Dornach spoke in the packed auditorium of the Hirschengraben school building on “Anthroposophical Spiritual Science, Its Value for Humanity, and Its Relationship to Art and Religion.” Through anthroposophical spiritual science, human beings gain an overview of the entire primordial world. A great connection emerges between our small “I” and the entire universe. We become aware of what we are. We experience how valuable it is to be an “I” in terms of our understanding of the world—because we do not stand alone in the universe, but in harmony with the infinite. This is precisely what is so valuable about anthroposophical spiritual science: that it allows our soul to be permeated by knowledge of the universe. It gives strength to powerful impulses of will and lifts us above the trivialities of life; it lets us feel that we are inwardly connected to the entire cosmos. It is a guide in realms that we cannot grasp with our intellect. It requires its followers to detach themselves from today’s worldview. Therefore, only on the foundation of anthroposophical spiritual science can a social outlook on life—one that has grown out of today’s world and is of great value for practical life—emerge. The greatness of the spirit is revealed in the mastery of matter, not in its withdrawal from life. In the human heart, the desire arises to build a bridge between the inner moral world and outer life. Our moral worldview must not flare up like a meteor and then fade away again. The world will pass away; but what lives within us will build new worlds. Anthroposophical spiritual science seeks to highlight the supersensible in art and to represent it in physical, material form. The path of the new artist lies in realizing the spiritual. Today’s science grasps only the intellect. The new teaching, however, brings the clarity of ideas into realms that until now were accessible only to a dim intuition. From this arises a reverence for the spirit that governs the world. Opponents call anthroposophical spiritual science a “tragedy of thought”; but life will prove its value. The large audience thanked the speaker with enthusiastic applause for his interesting remarks.