Original German term: Geisteswissenschaft
Plain English
Spiritual science is Steiner’s term for a disciplined investigation of spiritual reality.
Modern Translation
It means a path of inquiry that uses thinking, observation, meditation, self-development, and moral discipline to explore questions of spirit.
Why It Matters
Steiner used this term because he wanted anthroposophy to be more than belief, mood, or inherited religion.
For Beginners
A beginner can understand the phrase as an attempt to bring clarity, discipline, and responsibility into spiritual questions.
Important Context
The phrase spiritual science does not mean laboratory science in the modern sense. Steiner used it to describe a disciplined path of spiritual and philosophical inquiry.