The following lectures were
given by Rudolf Steiner to audiences familiar with the general
background of his anthroposophical teachings. He constantly
emphasized the distinction between his written works and
reports of lectures which were given as oral communications and
were not originally intended for print. It should
also be remembered that certain premises were taken for granted
when the words were spoken. “These premises”, Rudolf
Steiner writes in his autobiography, “include at the very
least the anthroposophical knowledge of Man and of the Cosmos
in its spiritual essence; also of what may be called
'anthroposophical history', told as an outcome of research
into the spiritual world.”
As this course of lectures
takes for granted considerable knowledge of ancient history, theological
development and the literature and philosophy of nineteenth
century Germany, notes and references
helpful to students have been added by the translator at the end of each
lecture.
* * *
A list of certain relevant
publications in English translation suggested for study and a
summarized plan of the Complete Edition of Rudolf Steiner's works in
the original German will be found at the end of the present
volume.
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