Rudolf Steiner’s concept of history in light of his early philosophy and later esotericism

Abstract

The aim of this article is to illustrate different aspects of Rudolf Steiner’s concept of history as they are expressed in his philosophy and esotericism. One aspect of his approach to history is connected to time, and I will discuss both his early and later treatment of this concept. His relationship to theosophy will also be treated in terms of his early and later thought. In the article, I investigate and problematize Steiner’s relationship to teleology, and the extent to which this plays into his conception of history. Steiner’s concept of spiritual science will also be illustrated and problematized.