Anthroposophy has Something to Add to Modern Sciences
GA 73
Translator's Note
Rudolf Steiner used a different style in these lectures. It is more in the academic register of Central Europe for the second decade of the 20th century. Once in a while, however, he was remarkably colloquial, so that I wished I could have more insight into the situation in the lecture room—who was there, and what needs did the initiate perceive as he spoke to his audience.
As the German-language editors state, the shorthand records are incomplete in places, and this is noted in the text where it is the case.
Translation proved a difficult bridging exercise between then and now. I have taken the register down a little, with great caution, to make the text reasonably accessible to the general reader of today. At the same time I have tried to keep the ‘feel’ of the style, and left sentences long where the spirit of the English language would permit this. It is also the first volume by Rudolf Steiner where I have had to put ‘[sic]’ on a few occasions, as the German original seemed unusual, at least to my understanding. I have been careful not to rewrite or improve on the original. It has been my experience that difficult passages invite us to bear them in heart and mind until illumination comes. This may often take a long time, but the results can be remarkable.
New insights can be gained from these lectures not only by people working in the sciences concerned but also by the general reader. I hope many will do so.
Anna R. Meuss
Surbiton, September 2002