教育學家R. Steiner所創設的華德福學校不論在國內或國外皆形成一股風潮，然而，在國內華德福教育逐步蓬勃發展之際，卻無人探究其最重要的著作《自由哲學之思想》。本文目的即企圖由Steiner的生平和自由哲學思想淵源之引介，來發掘其思想之源初，且發現其自由哲學思想中承繼與批判了B. Spinoza的一元論、唯心論與唯物論及自由意志的要素：動機與意志等三大要素，並交互影響華德福學校制度之設立。

The establishment of Waldorf schools, initiated by the educator Rudolf Steiner, has become a trend internationally and in Taiwan. However, despite the vigorous development of Waldorf education in Taiwan, scholars have not yet explored the concepts included in Steiner’s most influential book, The Philosophy of Freedom. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the conceptual origins of Steiner’s thinking by discussing his life and the concepts explored in The Philosophy of Freedom. We found that the arguments in The Philosophy of Freedom referenced and criticized the concept of monism proposed by Baruch Spinoza, idealism and materialism, and elements of free will (i.e., motivation and volition), all of which influenced the system established within Waldorf schools.