The Philosophy of Freedom as an Inner Schooling Path: Results from a Worldwide Annual Training Program
Publication information:
Abstract
The Philosophy of Freedom (PoF) stands at the heart of Rudolf Steiner’s spiritual-scientific œuvre. While its philosophical rigor is profound, many modern readers find it difficult to access its spiritual potential. In response, we developed a seven-month global training program based on PoF that supports individuals in cultivating inner freedom through structured, meditative thinking.
Participants engage daily with curated quotations (“thought-cards”) from PoF, supported by weekly guidance, monthly peer exchange, and a dedicated app. Since 2020, nearly 2,000 participants from over 35 countries have completed the program.
This contribution presents results from the 5th cycle (2023–2024), including both quantitative and qualitative data. Over 50–80% of participants reported clear improvements in concentration, insight, clarity, intuition, emotional stability, and spiritual well-being. While these findings were not statistically significant—due to the cross-sectional design—we are implementing a full pre-post longitudinal evaluation in the next cycle.
We propose that PoF—when approached as a living inner practice—can serve as a valid path of contemporary spiritual schooling. At the Conference of December 14-16th 2025 in Harvard we will be able to additionally present the fresh analysis of the 2024-2025 cycle with 748 participants. Our findings suggest new perspectives on how Steiner’s epistemology of freedom might be integrated into modern adult education and interdisciplinary research on contemplative development.
Presenter Biography
Andreas Schmitt, born 1979 on Stuttgart, Germany. He is a Specialist in Visceral Surgery, Scientist at the University of Tübingen, functional senior physician in the field of Integrative Oncology in the Filderclinic, Filderstadt, and guest scientist at the University of Witten-Herdecke, Germany. He is the founder and director of the Institute for Spiritual Activity, the Non-profit organization Leben im Denken e.V. and the Annual Training Philosophy of Freedom www.Philosophie-der-Freiheit.de. He has given various in person lectures and workshops all around the world. In the field of the Philosophy of Freedom in Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Kanada, USA, Russia, India, Japan, Korea. In the field of integrative oncology in various congresses (DKK Berlin, DEGAM Würzburg, DGHO Basel, ECIM Madrid, Ärztekongress Stuttgart, DGNHK Essen, FORUM Essen) and in Korea.
David Martin, born 1973 in Vermont, USA, grew up in the USA, France and England. He is a pediatrician, pediatric endocrinologist, oncologist, diabetologist and hematologist. After being Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Tübingen, he is now Chair of Medical Theory, Integrative and Anthroposophic Medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany. He has received several prizes for his research in the field of growth, skeletal development, diabetology and endocrinology and is Counselling Professor of the German National Academic Foundation. He is the founder and director of www.feverapp.de, www.warmuptofever.org, and the Clinical Foundation Course of the Eugen-Kolisko Academy www.kolisko-academy.org, tutor of www.anthroposophic-drs-training.org,scientific director of http://icihm.damid.de/en and is co-founder and co-director of www.lebens-Weise.org, www.mediafasting.org and www.bildschirmfrei-bis-3.de. He has authored over 175 peer-reviewed publications.