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The Rudolf Steiner Archive

a project of Steiner Online Library, a public charity

Truth and Knowledge
GA 3

This work in the German original, Wahrheit und Wissenschaft, first appeared in 1892 in the form of Rudolf Steiner's doctoral dissertation at the University of Rostock. Since that time, German and English editions have appeared. Truth and Knowledge or Truth and Science is a suitable introduction to Dr. Steiner's philosophical treatise entitled Philosophy of Spiritual Activity. It was originally published in German as, Wahrheit und Wissenschaft Vorspiel einer “Philosophie der Freiheit.”

Truth and Knowledge (1963)

This work, essentially Steiner's doctoral dissertation, which is subtitled “Introduction to the Philosophy of Freedom.” is just that: an essential work in the foundations of anthroposophy in which the epistemological foundations of spiritual cognition are clearly and logically laid forth.

It was bundled together with The Philosophy of Spiritual Activity in the same volume. These books were translated by Rita Stebbing.


Truth and Knowledge (1981)

This edition appears to have the same content as the 1963 edition above. In this case, it was not bundled with any other book ... just the second printing of Truth and Knowledge, translated by Rita Stebbing.


Wahrheit und Wissenschaft

Vorspiel einer «Philosophie der Freiheit»
Seine 1892 erstmals als erweiterte Buchausgabe unter dem Titel «Wahrheit und Wissenschaft» erschienene Dissertation über Erkenntnistheorie bezeichnete Rudolf Steiner zu Recht als «Vorspiel einer ‹Philosophie der Freiheit›», denn alle zentralen Punkte des späteren Hauptwerkes sind hier im Keim angelegt.