Rudolf Steiner

Rudolf Steiner (February 27, 1861, Murakirály, Hungary – March 30, 1925) was an Austrian philosopher, literary scholar, architect, playwright, educator, and social thinker, who is best known as the founder of Anthroposophy and its practical applications, including Waldorf School, Biodynamic agriculture, the Camphill Movement, and the Christian Community.

Related Topics:
February 27 - 1861 - Murakirály - Hungary - Donji Kraljevec - Croatia - March 30 - 1925 - Austria - Philosopher - Scholar - Architect - Playwright - Educator - Anthroposophy - Waldorf School - Biodynamic agriculture - Camphill Movement - Christian Community

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Steiner characterized history as essentially shaped by changes formed through a progressive development of human consciousness. The activity of individualised human thinking was seen as a relatively recent advance which led to the dramatic developments of the Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution.

Related Topics:
Renaissance - Industrial Revolution

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In his epistemological works, he advocated the Goethean view that thinking itself is a perceptive instrument for ideas, just as the eye is a perceptive instrument for light.

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He characterized his system of Anthroposophy as follows:

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:"Anthroposophy is a path of knowledge, to guide the spiritual in the human being to the spiritual in the universe... Anthroposophists are those who experience, as an essential need of life, certain questions on the nature of the human being and the universe, just as one experiences hunger and thirst."

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:::-Rudolf Steiner, Anthroposophical Leading Thoughts (1924)

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