Translation History
Bibliography note at Rudolf Steiner Archive
1894 Original German language.
1916 Hoernle:  original English translation sanctioned by Steiner, best translation for science minded. Only available by finding a rare book copy.
1922 Hoernle: (wait for complete download to be taken to book page, $26.56) Hoernle adds Steiner's 1918 text revisions of chapter 2 & 9 that seem to express more of Steiner's new found theosophical view.
1939 Poppelbaum: Poppelbaum revised 1922 Hoernle translation. Poppelbaum revised certain words and phrases from the "strictly Steiner point of view" 43 years after POF is written and 14 years after Steiner's passing at a time when theosophists-anthroposophists were defining the "strictly Steiner" view. Later translators copied most of his revisions.
1963 Stebbing? (US) revised Wilson translation for American readers from the way it looks.
1964 Wilson (UK) less accurate to German but reads well in old English style.
1986 Lindeman new translation from German, most accurate to the German but difficult to read.
1995 Lipson: gender neutral, mainly a rewording of Lindeman probably the result of closely following German and wanting to be different, with a little more modern English, difficult reading.

2009 Revised Translation Project
We are looking to the original 1894 version of The Philosophy of Freedom translated by Hoernle to rediscover the youthful Steiner's original impulse to freedom expressed out of his love for science, mathematics, and philosophy before he became involved in theosophy and mysticism.

The new translation will be a revised and updated version of the 1916 Hoernle English translation.  
See  Why a new translation?

Theosophy
In a 1906 lecture Steiner made it clear that The Philosophy of Freedom was written for the express purpose of disciplining thinking without any mention of theosophy. P.85, Rudolf Steiner on his book The Philosophy of Freedom.

Project Organization
Tom Last:  Project manager
John Ralph:  Writer (development of an appropriate English style and structure)

Collaboration
Newly translated text along with translation issues will be posted throughout the process. Your constructive questions, feedback and suggestions are all very much appreciated and will be taken seriously.

Online Research Tools
Side by side compare  Compare different translations
World-Outlook table  Indicates Steiner's POF shifts from one view to another
OneLook dictionary search
Side by Side with Wilson and Stebbing

Computer Translators
Google translator of chapter:  Select chapter, by holding the mouse to the text you can locate specific German sentences to examine further.
Google translator
Babylon translator  
SDL translator
Leo translator  
imtranslator
revers dict.
dict.cc

Journal Links
German Comparison of 1894 and 1918 versions, 1894 chapter 1  Chapter 1  Chapter 2  Chapter 3
typing of Hoernle translation
past translation work
Glossary