Original German term: Evolution und Entwicklung
Plain English
Evolution and development are central to Steiner’s view of the world.
Modern Translation
Steiner accepted the importance of biological evolution, but he also spoke about evolution of consciousness, culture, soul life, and spiritual capacity.
Why It Matters
Anthroposophy is full of developmental thinking. Children develop. Individuals develop. Cultures develop. Consciousness develops. The Earth itself is seen as part of a larger story of becoming.
For Beginners
The useful entry point is that human beings are unfinished. We are not fixed products. We are participants in development.
Important Context
Steiner described evolution in both biological and spiritual terms. Some parts overlap with cultural or developmental thinking, while others belong to his own spiritual cosmology. Understanding these ideas can only happen when the whole picture is seen, not just parts.
Therefore, in its fundamental nature, the anthroposophical movement… must cast aside the division into races. It must seek to unite people of all races and nations, and to bridge the divisions and differences between various groups of people…
Rudolf Steiner