Book Reviews / the Rudolf Steiner Library Newsletter
Anthroposophy and the Philosophy of Freedom
The Genius of Money:
Essays & Interviews Reimagining the Financial World
By Sergei O. Prokofieff; Temple Lodge, 2009, 304pgs. Review by Sara Ciborski
By John Bloom; SteinerBooks, 2009, 192 pgs. Review by John Alexandra
The double subtitle of this extraordinary book could serve as a synopsis: Anthroposophy and Its Method of Cognition: The Christological and Cosmic-Human Dimension of the Philosophy of Freedom. Its aim, says Prokofieff in his preface, is to show how the anthroposophical path of cognition—as given in Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy of Freedom 1—is inseparable from the Mystery of the Resurrection. Through a “thorough examination of the deeply Christian roots” of this foundational book, he intends to “throw a new light not just on the spiritual sources of anthroposophy as a ‘science of resurrection’, but likewise on the whole importance of The Philosophy of Freedom for modern Christian esotericism.” This statement of ambitious aim, however, falls short of conveying the richness and profound significance of what I venture to suggest is the most important book about anthroposophy yet written. Prokofieff says in an epilogue that it is a radical departure from numerous other books dealing with The Philosophy of Freedom: most of them try to explain and bridge the seeming break between Rudolf Steiner’s early philosophical works and his later esoteric ones. Instead, Prokofieff reveals The Philosophy of Freedom itself as an esoteric work, and one moreover that contains seeds for all Steiner’s major themes to come. Sixteen chapter titles indicate those themes, among them the working of the hierarchies; the “study of man”; the Fifth Gospel; the Being Anthroposophia; life between death and rebirth;Rosicrucian and Michaelic impulses;karma and reincarnation; the modern science of the Grail; and the Foundation Stone—all woven seamlessly into a unified whole with the content of The Philosophy of Freedom. It is a brilliant, compelling, inspirational synthesis. Anthroposophy and the Philosophy of Freedom is a demanding book for serious anthroposophists; readers need to have studied the so-called basic books, especially of course The Philosophy of Freedom, and some books in Rudolf Steiner’s Christology. Prokofieff also assumes familiarity with the Christmas Confer-
...begging is one of the most unfortunate conditions to which a person can be reduced, yet, in a spiritual or religious context, it is practiced [by Buddhist monks, for example] as a path to enlightenment. In the former, it does not seem to be a preferred choice, instead it is a social consequence. In the latter, the practice is taken as a totally conscious, self-imposed choice.... Both extremes share the quality of a threshold experience that places the beggar at the edge of existence and the gift as a virtuous or spiritual deed and a bridge across that existential chasm. This insight from the essay “Begging to Differ” gives a taste of the eminently original approach John Bloom takes in his book, The Genius of Money. Exploring paintings by artists ranging from Giotto to Andy Warhol, he looks to works of art for insights both into money itself and into our human attitudes toward it—in this case, exploring begging as a threshold experience through Rembrandt’s painting Beggars at the Door (below).
The book’s introduction presents a significant observation out of Bloom’s work with not-for-profit organizations—he’s director of organizational culture at RSF Social Finance and is also active in developing the Transforming Money Network—that forms a leitmotif for the book, an observation that likely rings true with many a reader: “I have worked in an advisory capacity with many individuals and groups who are passionate about the work they do and who care deeply about what they are accomplishing for the benefit of the world. However, when it came time to address questions about money, salaries, and fees, those same people would enjoin the conversation as if they were a different set of personalities. Something, some inexplicable energy, presented itself as a shadow—passion turned to rancor and distrust, care turned to anxiety.” This strange disconnect between what Bloom calls our public
1 The most recent English edition (1995) of Rudolf Steiner’s Philosophy of Freedom (GA 4) is titled Intuitive Thinking as a Spiritual Path: A Philosophy of Freedom, and is translated by Michael Lipson.
Review continues on page 60 12
Evolving News for Members & Friends