Who Was Rudolf Steiner?

Rudolf Steiner: Respected Scholar Period
Rudolf Steiner's "The Philosophy Of Freedom" is not part of anthroposophy. After all, the Anthroposophical Society did not even exist until 20 years later. "The purpose of The Philosophy Of Freedom is to lay the foundation of ethical individualism and of a social and political life." 1918 Rudolf Steiner.

The Philosophy Of Freedom was written during Rudolf Steiner’s Respected Scholar Period. After 1900 Steiner entered his Occult Period. This website is focused on his Scholar Period because it is a valuable resource that is filled with the spirit of The Philosophy Of Freedom. This is the period in his life when he was immersed in the books ideas and when he worked to persuade others to accept these ideas. Learn about two periods of Steiner's life: Video.

Steiner's reputation today is less than what it should be because this early period of his life is unknown. At the age of 40, after the turn of the century, Steiner's life suddenly took a controversial turn to the occult mysticism of theosophy. Steiner admitted that many would regard his occult writings as ...“mad”.

F. Rittlemeyer asked Rudolf Steiner why he never touched upon occult topics before his fortieth year? Steiner replied, "I first had to attain a certain position in the world. People could say of my present writings (occult) that they are "mad". Then, however, there are my earlier works, which cannot be ignored." Rudolf Steiner, Life and Work Volume 2 (1890-1900) by Peter Selg

The Philosophy Of Freedom stands on its own completely independent of his later spiritual research and independent of the Theosophical / Anthroposophical Society. At the time of its publication the Anthroposophical Society didn't exist. It was founded 18 years later. “this book occupies a position completely independent of my writings on actual spiritual scientific matters... What I have said in this book may be acceptable even to some who, for reasons of their own, refuse to have anything to do with the results of my research into the spiritual realm.” Rudolf Steiner, "The Philosophy of Freedom", 1918 Preface to the Revised Edition.

“You will find nothing at all in The Philosophy of Freedom that is derived from clairvoyant communications of spiritual science. It is written for the express purpose of disciplining thinking without any mention of theosophy.”  Rudolf Steiner

The ideas in The Philosophy Of Freedom were formed before Rudolf Steiner had any interest in theosophy. In fact he criticized theosophists and spiritualists for having no interest in science.

Steiner was an observer of human nature and up and coming philosopher. He presented a humanist philosophy of life called Ethical Individualism in a book entitled The Philosophy Of Freedom intended to lay the foundations of a social and political life based on human freedom, especially free thinking. It was not mere philosophy, but was based on the scientific study of mind through the introspective observation of the cognitive processes.

His study of human nature led to the discovery of the purest expression of human nature which he called the "free spirit". The free spirit expresses itself in those moments of free thinking and ethical deeds. Steiner's observations described in The Philosophy Of Freedom can be verified by anyone willing to observe their thought processes.

Steiner Declares Himself An Anarchist
Rudolf Steiner acquired a magazine named the Magazin für Literatur as a means to express his views to influence social and political life. He entered the public discussion by writing reviews and critical essays on books and events that were shaping the culture. He said that everything he wrote was "imbued with the spirit of The Philosophy of Freedom". A problem today is finding an audience receptive to the ideas in The Philosophy Of Freedom. Steiner found an audience of like-minded free spirits in the Individualist Anarchist movement. In 1898 he published his correspondence with a leader of the Individualist Anarchist movement for he shared many of their views and considered himself an anarchist. He answered the question of was he an Individualist Anarchist with "an unconditional Yes!"

Just two years after enthusiastically proclaiming to the world he was an Individualist Anarchist, Rudolf Steiner joins the theosophists. What happened?

The Philosophy Of Freedom Is Banned
At this point in his life Steiner appears to have found his place in the world as an advocate of free individuality through the Individualist Anarchist movement. But life circumstances dramatically changed the direction of his life. Some assume it was always Steiner's destiny to become a spiritualst and found the Anthroposophy movement. Actually we choose our destiny in every moment. In an interview Steiner biographer Gary Lachman explains:

"One of the reasons I wrote my biography of Steiner is that if you go to read anything about his life it's usually written by devotees and you get this picture from early on he knew his mission and all that kind of thing. Where he was going and everything was a step in that (direction) but actually like everybody else he sort of looked around and tried to find a place for himself."

After Steiner declared himself an anarchist the readers of his magazine began canceling their subscriptions. The Individualist Anarchists were being incorrectly labeled as supporting violence like the Marxist anarchists. His Magazin für Literatur and The Philosophy Of Freedom were banned in Russia and Steiner feared arrest after being accused of associating with terrorists. The magazine failed and Steiner was in serious need of income. His work with The Philosophy Of Freedom had been silenced and his audience was lost.

Accepts A Job To Establish A Local Theosophical Society
Steiner was available as a teacher and lecturer on a variety of spiritual, philosophical, social and political topics. He found a new audience with a small group of local theosophists who were meeting in someone's home. They were eager to hear about his occult experiences. Steiner had been having clairvoyant experiences since his youth. He was an excellent lecturer and the theosophists were impressed. A wealthy benefactor offered him a job to help establish and run the Berlin Theosophical Society. Steiner eventually accepted the offer only on the condition he would work alongside Marie Steiner-von Sivers who he later married. Joining the Theosophical Society disappointed his scholarly friends as Steiner now limited his associations to one group. Interest in theosophy peaked in Germany in 1925 and has declined ever since. Steiner's transition into the occult does not diminish his previous achievements as a respected scholar.

"History cannot show one pioneer who is worth the digesting of absolutely everything. Isaac Newton won't be remembered for his speculations about the Apocalypse of St. John." said Peter Normann Waage

Near the end of his life, Steiner said The Philosophy of Freedom would outlive all his occult works. And it has. He encouraged science-minded people who refuse to have anything to do with his spiritual research to read The Philosophy Of Freedom. The social establishment rejected his freedom philosophy in the 1890's. And then the book was hidden for a century. Things have changed as the cry for freedom is destabilizing society causing the increasing censorship of free speech. A new audience of individualists who reject collectivism, socialism and globalism is on the rise.  

The Philosophy Of Freedom is the guide to the free individual and the social renewal sought by many today. It is urgent to get the word out to those who seek individual, social, and political freedom.

"The purpose of The Philosophy Of Freedom is to lay the foundations of ethical individualism and of a social and political life." Rudolf Steiner 1918

The Theosophical Society in 1907

There are two English editions of The Philosophy Of Freedom translated by Prof. and Mrs. R. F. Alfred Hoernlé. The unrevised edition based on the original 1894 German "Die Philosophie der Freiheit" and the revised edition changed in 1918 to be more suitable to Steiner's new theosophy followers by attempting to connect The Philosophy Of Freedom to his later occult work. The original edition is recommended because it more fully expresses the spirit of freedom that motivated the author.