Origins of anthroposophy

Anthroposophy is a spiritual philosophy founded by the Austrian thinker Rudolf Steiner, who developed it from his earlier work in the Theosophical Society. When he broke with the Theosophists, he and his followers founded the Anthroposophical Society, which was established in 1912 and 1913. Steiner taught that there is a spiritual world which can be perceived through disciplined thinking and inner development. The movement's headquarters is the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. Its ideas have been applied in practical fields, including Waldorf education, which began in Stuttgart in 1919, biodynamic farming, anthroposophic medicine and the movement art of eurythmy. Critics consider many of its claims unscientific, and some of Steiner's statements on race have been strongly criticised.

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