The Fourth Dimension

6 lectures, Berlin, March 24–June 7, 1905;
2 lectures, Nov. 7, 1905 & Oct. 22, 1908;
Questions & Answers, 1904–1922 (CW 324a)

The point, line, plane and solid objects represent the first three dimensions, but a kind of reversal of space is involved in the ascent to a fourth dimension. Steiner leads us to the brink of this new perspective―as nearly as it can be done with words, diagrams, analogies, and examples of many kinds. In doing so, he continues his lifelong project of demonstrating that our objective, everyday thinking is the lowest rung of a ladder that reaches up to literally infinite heights.

The talks in this series and the selections from the question-and-answer sessions on many mathematical topics over the years are translated into English for the first time in The Fourth Dimension. They bring us to tantalizing new horizons of awareness where Steiner hoped to lead his listeners:

Topics include:

∞ The relationship between geometric studies and the development of direct spiritual perception
∞ How to construct a fourth-dimensional hypercube
∞ The six dimensions of the self-aware human being
∞ Problems with the theory of relativity
∞ The Trinity and angelic hierarchies and their relationship to physical space
∞ The dimensional aspect of the spiritual being encountered by Moses on Mt. Sinai

Drawings in the text: The sketches of figures that Rudolf Steiner drew on the board during the lectures are available only in the form in which they were preserved by the note takers. Reconstructions of the drawings for this volume were done by Renatus Ziegler.

This volume is a translation from German of Die vierte Dimension Mathematik und Wirklichkeit (GA 324a).

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.