The Foundations of Human Experience - Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Education lectures

Skylark Books

The Foundations of Human Experience - Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Education lectures The Foundations of Human Experience
14 lectures by Rudolf Steiner
Foreword by Henry Barnes

Previous translation titled Study of Man.

The Foundations of Human Experience series contains some of the most remarkable and significant lectures ever given by Rudolf Steiner. But, because these lectures were given to teachers, they have suffered the misconception that they are valuable only to teachers. Any teacher who wishes to teach in a way that encompasses the whole child will certainly need a functional understanding of what Steiner presents here. Nevertheless, these lectures will also greatly benefit parents, psychologists, and counsellors.

Furthermore, because Steiner here gives his most concise and detailed account of the nature of the human being, these lectures are also absolutely essential for those who want a deep understanding of Steiner's spiritual science. Anyone who is willing to work through this work will discover here a new, powerful, convincing, and profoundly phenomenological "anthropology" of human spiritual psychology.

These are the lectures in which, for the first time, Steiner laid out the principles upon which the art of teaching could be renewed. This is the primary text for those who take up a study of Waldorf education.

Trans: R. F. Lathe, N. P. Whittaker (14 lectures, Stuttgart 20 Aug to 5 Sept 1919, GA293, & 2 lectures, Berlin 15 & 17 Mar 1917, GA66); 352pp
Anthroposophic Press
ISBN: 0 88010 392 2; paperback

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) called his spiritual philosophy 'anthroposophy', which he defined as 'the consciousness of one's humanity', and the disciplined methods of studying this he termed ‘spiritual science’. As a highly developed clairvoyant and spiritual initiate, he spoke from his direct cognition of the spiritual world. However, he did not see his work as religious or sectarian, but rather sought to found a universal 'science of the spirit'.

His many published works (written books and lectures) - which include his research into the spiritual nature of the human being, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods of personal development - invite readers to develop their own spiritual faculties. He also provided indications for the renewal of many human activities, including education - both general and special - agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, religion and the arts. He wrote some 30 books and delivered over 6000 lectures across Europe, and in 1924 founded the General Anthroposophical Society which today has branches throughout the world.