THE PUBLICATION OF LECTURES HELD
BY RUDOLF STEINER
The foundation of Anthroposophically orientated Spiritual Science is
laid in the works which were written and published by Rudolf Steiner
(1861 1925). At the same time Dr. Steiner held numerous lectures and
courses both for the general public and for members of the
Theosophical (later Anthroposophical) Society in the years between
1900 and 1924. It was not his original wish to have these lectures
published which were without exception of a spontaneous nature and
conceived as oral communications not intended for print. However,
after an increasing number of incomplete and erroneous listeners'
transcripts had been printed and circulated, he found it necessary to
have the notes regulated. He entrusted this task to Marie Steiner von
Sivers (1867 1948). She was made responsible for the choice of
stenographers, the supervision of their transcripts and the necessary
revision of texts before publication. As Rudolf Steiner was only in a
very few instances able to correct the notes himself his reservation
in respect to all publications of his lectures must betaken into
account: Errors occurring in transcripts which I myself have been
unable to revise will just have to be tolerated.
In Chapter 35 of his autobiography, Rudolf Steiner expounds on the
relationship between his lectures for members which were initially
only circulated internally and his public writings. The relevant text
is printed at the end of this volume. What is expressed there also
applies to the lecture courses directed towards a restricted audience
already familiar with the principles of Spiritual Science.
After Marie Steiner's death, the editing of a Complete Works of
Rudolf Steiner was commenced according to her directions. The
volume at hand constitutes a part of this complete edition.
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