True and False Paths in Spiritual Investigation

From 11th to 22nd August, 1924, during his last visit to Great Britain, the following Lecture-Course was given by Rudolf Steiner at a Summer School in Torquay, Devon, organized by the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain. The lectures were delivered in three sections, each being immediately translated into English by George Adams. Verbatim reports were made by an experienced stenographer and the present, entirely new translation, is based on these reports. It must, however, be remembered that Rudolf Steiner constantly emphasized the distinction between his written works and reports of lectures which were given as oral communications and not originally intended for print. The Course was given in compliance with a request made to Dr. Steiner that the lectures should deal with right and wrong practices connected with the development of supersensory experience, and with the need for new insight in many domains of modern culture.

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As well as the main Course, lectures were given, in Torquay and in London, to Members of the Anthroposophical Society. These lectures have been published with the title: Cosmic Christianity and the Impulse of Michael. Karma in the life of Individuals and in the Evolution of the World.

Dr. Steiner also gave a course of lectures to teachers who were shortly afterwards to found the first school in England (now Michael Hall, Forest Row, Sussex) based upon the principles of education of which he was the inaugurator. These lectures have been published in a volume entitled, The Kingdom of Childhood.

Performances of Eurythmy by artists from the Goetheanum were given both in Torquay and in London and before Dr. Steiner left this country he delivered two lectures to doctors and medical students in London, also an Address and Public Lecture on Spiritual Values in Education.

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A list of literature bearing directly upon the contents of the lectures in the present volume will be found at the end of the texts, together with a summarized plan of the Complete Edition of Rudolf Steiner's works in the original German.