MANFRED LEIST · LORENZO RAVAGLI · HANS-JÜRGEN BADER
"Racial Ideals Lead
Mankind Into Decadence"
ANTHROPOSOPHY AND ANTI-SEMITISM
MANFRED LEIST · LORENZO RAVAGLI · HANS-JÜRGEN BADER
"Racial Ideals Lead
Mankind Into Decadence"
ANTHROPOSOPHY AND ANTI-SEMITISM:
Was Rudolf Steiner An Anti-Semite?
First English edition
Based on the third, revised and augmented German edition, January 2002
Published by the Federation of Free Waldorf Schools (Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen )
Heidehofstr. 32, D -70184 Stuttgart
Tel. 0711 / 2 10 42 16, Fax 0711 / 2 10 42 19, e-mail: email@example.com
Copyright © 2002 Bund der Freien Waldorfschulen, Stuttgart
2. The Report of the Dutch Commission
3. The Aim of the Present Study
4. The Methodological Problem of Quotations: Basic Argument and Isolated Statements
Rudolf Steiner's Alleged Anti-Semitism
The Incompatibility of Ethical Individualism and Anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is a "Danger to Jews and Non-Jews Alike", a Cultural Illness and a Mockery of all Idealism
Steiner's Close Relationship to Jewry in his Personal, Everyday Life
The Dreyfus Affair
Steiner's Discussion of Zionism
Steiner's Essay on Hamerling's Homunculus
The Longing of the Jews for Palestine
The Letter to Marie Steiner in 1905
The Role of Jewish Physicians
Steiner's Criticism of Monotheism and Religion Based on Revelation
Steiner's Appreciation of Judaism
The Historical Mission of Judaism
"Racial Ideals Lead Mankind Into Decadence"
"All is race; there is no other truth."1
- Benjamin Disraeli, British Prime Minister
"Any person who speaks of race ideals today is speaking of impulses which lead mankind into decadence."
- Rudolf Steiner, 1917
There is a definite reason for publishing this study. A number of allegations have recently been publicly levelled against Rudolf Steiner in Germany; they pertain to his supposed anti-Semitism and racist attitude. The intention of these allegations is obvious: they are an attack on Waldorf schools and other institutions that base their activity on Rudolf Steiner's teachings, because the necessity is seen to establish "political correctness" in this sensitive area of society. But Steiner is not the only target. The Holocaust has sharpened sensibilities considerably. Other prominent personalities have also been the addressees of such accusations in recent times: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, for example. Goethe, an anti-Semite! A charge of this sort - which, incredible as it may seem, was actually brought forth - can be sure to command the attention of the general public. It will certainly also elicit strong refutations, because anyone with even an inkling of Goethe's achievements will find this accusation just too extreme and in complete contradiction to the man and his work. However, it is possible to find remarks by Goethe which, if one does not know and take into consideration their historical background, would seem to corroborate this claim.
If such accusations are levelled against Rudolf Steiner, it is a good deal more difficult to defend him. His work is much less well known than Goethe's, and therefore the accusations appear to be more believable. This makes such claims harder to refute.
There has been an inflation of allegations of anti-Semitism in recent years which has not been particularly conducive to combating real anti-Semit