In his final lectures to the general public, Rudolf Steiner speaks with great clarity and purpose about the inner and outer necessity of the anthroposophical impulse in modern times. Following the fire that destroyed the first Goetheanum building in Dornach, Switzerland, Steiner had focused his efforts on rebuilding and reorganizing the Anthroposophical Society. But he also continued to travel and speak to the public - in Prague, Vienna and Basel - to explain the purpose of the Goetheanum and to elucidate the broader aims of his spiritual work. These lectures, including a semi-public series in Dornach, are gathered here and published in English for the first time, together with an introduction, notes and index. The volume features the following lectures: The Purpose of the Goetheanum and the Aims of Anthroposophy; Enhancing Human Powers of Perception to Develop Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition; Human Soul Life and the Development of Imagination, Inspiration and Intuition; Experience and Perception of the Activities of Thinking and Speech; The Physical World and Moral-Spiritual Impulses: Four Stages of Inner Experience; Perceiving the Etheric World; Souls Eternity in the Light of Anthroposophy; Human Development and Education in the Light of Anthroposophy; Supersensible Perception, Anthroposophy as a Contemporary Need; Anthroposophy and the Ethical and Religious Life; How Do We Gain Knowledge of the Supersensible World?
Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy "anthroposophy", meaning "wisdom of the human being". As a highly developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern and universal "science of spirit", accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unprejudiced thinking. From his spiritual investigations Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of many activities, including education (both general and special), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. Today there are thousands of schools, clinics, farms and other organizations involved in practical work based on his principles. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development. Steiner wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe. In 1924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.
