STEINER, RUDOLF. - Philosopher, b. at Kraljevic (Croatia) on 27 Feb. 1861, d. at Dornach (Switzerland) on 30 March 1925, founder of "anthroposophy." A scholar of manifold interests, philosophical and religious, he collaborated on the edition of Goethe's works (1890-97).
Attracted by theosophy (v.), he at first (1902) joined the Theosophical Society (he was secretary of the German section), from which he later (1913) detached himself, founding the "Anthroposophical Society," to indicate the centrality of the problem of man. The society, secret in character, had many adherents, especially in the countries of Germanic culture. The Church's condemnations concerning theosophy (Denz-U, 2189) have also struck anthroposophy.
S. gave anthroposophy the meaning of a new complete vision of the world of man. Man is inserted into the universe and consists of various elements successively capable of expressing themselves in the unfolding of his life, which participates in the evolution of the world. This conception also includes a thoroughly heterodox rethinking of Christianity: this, seen in the oriental occult tradition, is understood as a "mystical fact," and its teaching is reduced to an experience that only science succeeds in clarifying and rendering complete.
Principal works: Grundlinien einer Erkenntnistheorie der goetheschen Weltanschauung (Berlin 1886); Die Philosophie der Freiheit (ibid. 1894, Italian trans. Bari 1919); F. Nietzsche, ein Kämpfer seiner Zeit (Weimar 1895); Goethes Weltanschauung (ibid. 1897); Haeckel u. seine Gegner (Minden 1900); Welt- u. Lebensanschauungen im 19. Jahrh., 2 vols., Berlin 1900-1901; 2nd ed. under the title Die Rätsel d. Philos. (ibid. 1914); Theosophie (Leipzig 1904; many editions; Italian trans. Milan 1938); Wie erlangt man Erkenntnisse höherer Welten (Berlin 1909); Die Geheimwissenschaft im Umriß (Leipzig 1910; many editions; Italian trans. Milan 1942); Vom Menschenrätsel, etc. (Berlin 1916); Die Philos. des Thomas v. Aquino (posthumous 1930), etc.
Bibliography6 works
Luigi Pelloux