Steiner’s doctoral dissertation from Vienna concerned the philosophy of Fichte; he also studied Goethe intensively. He eventually evolved a speculative and oracular metaphysic, anthroposophy, akin to theosophy, and postulating different levels of pscyhical and astral powers. His educational influence was more benign, stressing harmonious and natural development, and Steiner or ‘Waldorf’ schools based on his teachings exist in many countries.