In this volume Steiner concerns himself with the effects that have stemmed from the failure of scientists to examine thinking at the time of the scientific revolution and after. The result of this failure is materialism in human culture which in turn generates a karma: the karma of materialism.

This first volume in Rudolf Steiner's Karmic Relationships series is an essential foundation for the study of the later volumes. In these lectures, Rudolf Steiner gives an overview of the laws and conditions of karma, and goes on to consider the incarnations of Friedrich Nietzsche, Lord Bacon of Verulam, Lord Byron, as well as many others.

In Karmic Relationships Volume 2, Steiner considers individual karmic relationships in history — for example, Marx and Engels — as well karma in human life, the shaping of karma after death, and the 'cosmic form' of karma.

In Karmic Relationships Volume 3, Rudolf Steiner discusses the karmic relationships within the anthroposophical movement, including the predispositions which lead souls to anthroposophy, the two streams within the movement — plus Rosicrucianism, Arabism, Aristotelianism, the Platonists and the School of Michael.

In this fourth volume of the series, Steiner considers the karmic groups of souls connected to Aristotelianism and Platonism, the karma of the anthroposophical movement, as well as the individual incarnations of Ernst Haeckel, Vladimir Solovioff and others. This new edition also includes Steiner's last address.