The Austrian writer, theosophist and reform pedagogue Dr phil. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner (1861-1925) is best known as the founder of anthroposophy. He studied at the Technical University in Vienna from October 1879. His main subject was mathematics, his minor subjects were chemistry, physics, geology, mineralogy, biology, botany, zoology, mechanics and mechanical engineering. His work began in Vienna with the edition of Goethe's scientific writings, editorial work on magazines and encyclopaedias and work as an editor. Among others, he edited works by the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), as well as the poets Jean Paul, Ludwig Uhland and Christoph Martin Wieland. Even at the beginning of his membership of the Theosophical Society, whose German section he headed from 1902, he represented his own esotericism of a Western character with a particular emphasis on the Christian element.
The building on the right is an example of anthroposophical, organic architecture. It is the first Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, designed by Rudolf Steiner and built in 1922. It burnt down shortly after opening due to arson. By 1928, however, a completely differently designed second Goetheanum had also been built in the anthroposophical style.
Publishing activities
The Rudolf Steiner Archive in Dornach manages his estate, including around 1,800 letters, hundreds of notebooks, thousands of notes and 3,700 stenographic lecture notes. In the course of his life, he not only wrote numerous books (340 volumes) and essays, but also gave over 6,000 lectures on various areas of life. Some of his works are "What does alcohol do to the human body?", "The Apocalypse from an anthroposophical point of view" (both a collection of his lectures), "Goethe's world view" (1897), "Theosophy - Introduction to supersensible world knowledge and human destiny" (1904) and "Friedrich Nietzsche, a fighter against his time" (1895).
Anthroposophy
From 1904, Steiner developed the foundations of anthroposophy in Berlin. This spiritual world view combines various elements of German idealism (Immanuel Kant), Goethe's world view, gnosis (special religious knowledge), Far Eastern teachings and the scientific findings of the time. He called it "spiritual science" and, from 1910, anthroposophy. Steiner developed new concepts on this basis. These include anthroposophical architecture, Waldorf education, anthroposophical medicine and pharmacy, biodynamic agriculture, eurythmy (laws of speech and music) and the Christian Community.
Biodynamic viticulture
The concept of biodynamics is based on a series of lectures that Steiner presented in 1924. In it, he blamed chemical fertilisers for plant diseases, especially in monocultures, and presented a holistic, homeopathic way of farming. The rules of biodynamic viticulture are based on these ideas. The organic farming organisation DEMETER is also largely based on his ideas. From the outset, Steiner's teachings and his approach had a strongly polarising effect. This was partly due to his claim to have gained his knowledge with the help of "clairvoyant organs". However, the scientific nature of his ideas is disputed. Supporters of his teachings, on the other hand, believe that Steiner was a "seer" and addressed ecological aspects long before there was an environmental movement. See also under Esotericism in winemaking and Organic viticulture.
Rudolf Steiner: by Otto Rietmann - Public domain, Link
Memorial plaque: by OTFW, Berlin - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link
Goetheanum: Public domain, Link
Source: WIKIPEDIA Anthroposophy and Rudolf Steiner
