The Meaning of Premature Death. Accident, Necessity, and Foreknowledge

This lecture course was delivered in the midst of the tragic events of World War I, when students of spiritual disciplines were painfully searching for answers to questions: Is the death of loved ones accidental, what did the deceased do to deserve such a fate, how necessary are all these sacrifices, what is their meaning, and what are the personal consequences of premature death? Rudolf Steiner examines both the personal and cosmic aspects of premature death, sacrificial death, and death in old age. In this context, he conducts a detailed analysis of the concepts of "accident," "necessity," and "foreknowledge," linking them with the occult characteristics of thinking and the realities of the spiritual world.