Newsletter Social Section Winter 09

School of Spiritual Science Goetheanum Section for Social Science Newsletter

Discourse On the Challenges of the Times and the Future of the Section for Social Sciences Review of Events

1

Winter 2009

CONTENTS Foreword From the Research Work Conversation about the demands of the times and the future of the Section for Social Sciences Priorities in the Work of the Section for Social Sciences Discourse on the Challenges of the Times Looking into Our Time: The Relevance of Threefolding Threefolding and European Integration What Shall We Do Abou Ahriman?

Section Discourse The Financial and Economic Crisis as an Expression of a Crisis of Meaning We Have No Choice: It’s About the Sacred and the Profane The Future of Social Threefolding November Work Session Topics Nobel Peace Prize for Barack Obama Nicanor Perlas Running for President of the Philippines!

2

3

5 8 11 14 17 29 31 34 38 45 46 64

Review of Events A Refreshing Conference on Owen Barfield Study Group on ‘Family as a Workplace’ Report

49 53 56

Preview of Events Transformation of Childhood Forces

62

Calendar of Events

67

Foreword Dear Friends, In this second newly designed newsletter, you will find, in particular, contributions to the conversation on the challenges of our time and the future of the Section for Social Sciences, which was held at the Goetheanum on

conversation became a source for

the 26th and 27th of November,

social sculpting. It was followed

2009.

contributions

by the conference, which was

allow you to participate in this

mainly organized by the younger

conversation retroactively. The

generation and which had as

remarkable thing was that on

its theme a conversation on the

the second day a large number

threefold nature of the social

of young people from the

organism.

These

Youth Section took part in the conversation, which provided

I am grateful that Shelley Sacks

it with a creative dynamic.

closed the conference in her

The future was present! The

own special way, giving the 3

conversation a strongly spiritual and meditative character.

Thus the many facets of the conversation could be experienced. It became a vessel for a “creation out of nothingness�; the social realm needs this kind of creativity in order to develop in a future-oriented way.

If you would like to make a substantive contribution to the next newsletter (to appear in July 2010) on the themes currently under discussion in the Section, we request that you please send in your text to our office by midMay 2010.

With warm regards, Paul Mackay

4

Conversation About the Demands of Our Time and the Future of the Section for Social Sciences 26. - 27. November 2009 Priorities in the work of the

the outmost extreme detriment of

Section for Social Sciences

humanity. (GA 233a, Lecture 12 January 1924).

When we reflect on the priorities in the work of the Section for Social

This means that we live in a time in

Sciences at the Goetheanum, we

which we either try to consciously

can identify three focus areas:

stand at the threshold and pay attention

to

the

guardian

or

1. The shape of the social realm

unconsciously live on. Social life has

The shape of the social sphere has

up to that crossing of the threshold

changed much over the centuries.

still been strongly supported by

Rudolf

the

Steiner

describes

that

unconscious.

These

forces

humanity has crossed the threshold

will have negative consequences

between 1842 and 1879 without

if they are not replaced by forces

taking note of the guardian of

of conciousness. It’s time to grasp

the threshold. For its healthy

social life out of a consciousness

development humanity has now

for the threshold. This means that

to “look back and take note of the

social life can only thrive if we

guardian”. For not paying attention

consider it in its true nature as an

to him and continue living into the

organism.

following centuries would lead to 5

This is basically the impulse of

should be there to make the path

the threefold nature of the social

of development and thus the

organism. It tries to comprehend

situation as it wants to become

the authentic form of social life.

recognizable.

This impulse which has been

these two situations, the given one

initiated by Rudolf Steiner after

and the one which wants to come

World War I should have its

about is the elixir of social life. The

spiritual home in our section. That

corresponding methodology is thus

is why it is important that we work

perceptive as well as creative. Such

in our section on the questions of

a process can only be meaningful

free spiritual life, rights life and

if we develop an artistic sense.

economic life, as well in their own

Otherwise measures are being

right as in their relatedness.

taken that meet neither the existing

The

interplay

of

nor the becoming situation. The 2. The social methodology

methodology obtains in this way a

The methodology in social sciences

social-artistic character.

has

6

always

to

do

with

two

complementary processes. On the

3.

one hand it is about focussing on

awareness

a situation as it is. The situation

Since we have reached the age

should be allowed to express itself.

of

The perception of the phenomena

the sociological fundamental law

and symptoms is a prerequisite. But

formulated

then it is important to recognize

(GA 31, the essay “Freedom and

in which direction this situation

Society�) is valid, a unique social

wants to develop. A vivid picture

challenge arises: the social realm

of a healthy future orientation

can no longer be hierarchically

A

socially

competent

individualization, by

and

Rudolf

I-

since Steiner

organized.

The

enhanced

self-

needs to be re-shaped from time

awareness does not allow this

to time. The creating of this realm

anymore. We live in the age of

is a thoroughly artistic process.

the consciousness-soul which by

However, this artistic process can

its nature includes an anti-social

only be accomplished on the basis

gesture. This gesture is only to

of a new I-awareness which is an

be overcome by a deeper or

expression of human dignity. I wish

broader

us a fruitful conversation.

understanding

of

the

I-consciousness. It starts with selfreflection. The human being will be more and more able to confront

Dornach, 26 November 2009 Paul Mackay, Goetheanum sektion.sozialwissenschaften@ goetheanum.ch

himself as a stranger: the self becomes the world. Against this background arises the possibility to connect oneself more inwardly with the world: the world becomes the self. This I-awareness which makes the I experienceable in the surrounding world is essential for the social sphere. It is a socially compentent I-awareness.

I wanted to mention these three elements of our work at the beginning of our conversation.

They are interrelated. Because of its dynamic nature the social realm 7

Discourse on the Demands of

by this quality of a new Michael

the Times

festival. I had the experience a few

and the Future of the Section

times in my life that such a Michael

for Social Sciences

festival was at hand. The first event, in the last century, was the fourth

Indeed, there were a lot of

congress of the Czechoslovakian

difficulties

this

Writers‘ Union in Prague in June

conference. However, I am glad

1967. Pavel Kohout, the Czech

that you are all here now. Let us

author, confessed: „The author’s

celebrate this meeting as a festival.

only means is the truth! „ Last

We have gathered to discuss and

year the Section for Social Sciences

confer on questions of our future.

hosted a meeting in Prague with

I would say that actually we are

the title „At the Threshold of a

not ready to celebrate a Michael

New Society“. (Prague – Praha

festival, but our meeting could

in the Czech language – means

become a part of, a step in, the

„threshold“).

preparation for such a festival.

the Czech author Antonin Liehm.

This is the real question behind

Under the battle-cry „The truth will

our meeting: Can we become an

win“, he also took part in the fight

organ, an instrument, to perceive

for freedom for the Czech people

in the actual world where Michael‘s

and for humanity as a whole.

in

preparing

It was opened by

impulses stir, where the freedom

8

impulse and people’s consciousness

In 1973, five years after the tanks

in the social realm become so

of the Warsaw Pact had flattened

strong that the impulses for the

these

threefold social organism evolve?

representatives of this impulse,

Let me indicate briefly what I mean

which had become obvious in

freedom

impulses,

the

the ‘Prague Spring’, met with

imagine this: after more than 30

the leading representatives of the

years of dictatorship, thousands

anthroposophical social impulse in

of people gather to celebrate a

Achberg, Germany. – For me this

peaceful festival of freedom, and

was a prominent event on the way

they all sang together the hymns

to a Michael festival. A personal

of freedom that Theodorakis had

meeting of two very important

composed.

anthroposophists: Joseph Beuys, the social artist, and Wilhelm

We had a precursor of these

Schmundt, the Goethean social

events in the 19th century when

scientist, also came about.

Beethoven set to music Friedrich Schiller’s freedom anthem, Ode to

Also in 1973 Joseph Beuys and

Joy – Schiller’s magnificent Hymn

Mikis Theodorakis, musician and

to Freedom in genius Ludwig van

Greek freedom-fighter who had to

Beethoven’s musical rendering of

live in French exile for many years,

1824:

met in a TV studio in Berlin. A lot

„… all people become brothers

would have to be said about the

…“

meeting of these two artistic giants of the 20th century. Two years after

Unfortunately, the world social

this meeting, the dictatorship in

forums, which also signified steps

Greece was peacefully overcome

in the direction of such a festival,

and Theodorakis could perform

have not yet reached the high

his musical masterpiece „Canto

quality of the art. This remains a

General“, in the huge stadiums of

big task and mission before us.

Piraeus and Athens with more than 125,000 rejoicing attendees. Please

In this sense I hope that our meeting

9

may become a field of exercise

modest self-confidence that you

for a social festival of the future,

are called karmically called to carry

for freedom, for threefolding of

forth the sword of Michael – to

the social organism, of freedom,

seek it and to find it....“

equality and brotherhood. But we must know: such a path will be

And then Rudolf Steiner gave

not only joyous. Rudolf Steiner has

a lecture for young people in

made this very clear in his addresses to the young people: „Today it will not proceed without storm …One

Arnhem: „The Life of the World Must be Established Anew in its Foundations“ (July 20th 1924). „But there is the real necessity to become

must be prepared for battle with

enthusiastic - for enthusiasm will

what one has to will in our day.“

be able to accomplish everything.

(A Talk to Young People). During

The word itself will then reach its

the course in Breslau-Koberwitz he

true meaning. The German word

spoke of threefolding again on June

„Begeisterung“

17th,

1924:

„...anthroposophy

should give rise to deeds. There was the necessity to move ahead to

carries

„Geist“,

spirit, in itself. That is self-evident: we need spirit. The English-Greek word enthusiasm has the divine within it (Gr. „Theos“). A god

threefolding – to create threefolding

is in the word“ (from A Talk to

in economics, in life, where spirit-

Young People, translated by Ruth

nature would have been able to

Pusch,

live. And this would have indeed

Enthusiasm for the social impulses

come about if threefolding had

of anthroposophy would have been

taken hold of people’s hearts. But it failed...This is the tragedy of these people...As young people, have the the strong and, at the same time, 10

Mercury

Press,

1992).

needed – and still today this is most urgently needed. Let’s work on this inspiration...

Ulrich Rösch ulrich.roesch@goetheanum.ch

Looking into Our Time: The Relevance of Threefolding

consciousness and engagement in regard to these developments. For example: What is the connection between independent and state-

The Section for Social Sciences

run

has asked for suggestions or steps

universities?

towards the approaching 100th

- In 2004, Berlin gave over two-

anniversary of the impulse for

thirds of its children’s day-care

social threefolding. Threefolding

facilities

is at work subconsciously in the

organizations.

existing facts. It is intended for the

-

next 400 years! One hundred years

associations

have already passed. As to whether

charity organization Paritätischer

the window is open again 90 years

Wohlfahrtsverband

later, I would say: yes. In my view,

the claim that the state should

the world is calling for threefolding,

give schools over to independent

but – put somewhat pointedly – we

carriers and provide education

have it on hold on a sidetrack or in

vouchers.

a safe for specialists.

- In 2009, the director of Humboldt

My three suggestions: Who of

University, in an 11-point proposal,

us has an overview of all of the

calls for an endowment-based

developments

university system, free from state

related

to

this

In

schools

and

over

2007,

to four

and

colleges

or

independent Berlin the

trade

German advanced

– looking back as well as ahead?

control.

1st

Section

- In 2009, a petition for a referendum

commissions progress reports on

for improved daycare conditions

the three areas, which are then

was declared invalid by the Berlin

published,

Senate. The Constitutional Court

suggestion:

The

thereby

furthering

11

decided

against

this:

domestic

the economy because gift money is

referendum petitions are allowed

academically/scientifically

in the next legislative period!

and, in reality, grows slowly. For

(Approximately 7% of Germany’s

this reason, war, catastrophes and

secondary schools are independent.

inflation replace these functions.

Up until now 20% - 43% more

As a timely answer to the economic

recently – of parents have called for

crisis, can we create a gift fund in the

independent schools!)

GLS [Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen

In this regard, the Section could

und Schenken – Community Bank

commission

research

for Loans and Gifts]? For example:

studies to track progress (for

someone invests 10,000 Euros in

example: as bachelor and master

a civic energy enterprise, receives

theses).

a good return for 20-25 years or

2nd suggestion: Appointment of

for life, and then the capital stock

an endowed chair for Sociology

becomes gift money – the recipient

of

Humboldt

having been previously designated

University. The University at Sekem

by the investor. This would at the

has already done this. Maybe other

same time somewhat reduce private

countries will follow suit.

inheritance.

3rd suggestion: The economic crisis

In the Section discussion there

was set off by the one-sidedness

was, apart from individual voices of

of

growth,

approval, no decision as to whether

rampant creation of money, and

the suggestions were seen as useful

speculation. Effusive growth also

or not.

exists in nature, but there is also

So it went with Erdmenger’s suggestion,

death and decomposition. This

too, for a re-naming of the Section to

systematic dismantling is lacking in

‘Section for Social Art’.

12

empirical

Threefolding

the

ideology

at

of

tabooed

In terms of the working context,

This perhaps also requires local

three questions from Ms. Koskinen

working

on Sunday seemed significant to

fields of experience and concrete

me: Is there something that we

experiences that – whether helpful

all want together? If yes, how do

or forbidding – can lead to individual

we come to a common decision

paths or to collaboration.

(despite individual areas of work

Was it only the theme of this

and

conference,

geographical

locations)?

opportunities,

or

are

practical

these

the

And what questions live in the

questions in the Society as a whole,

Anthroposophical

a

which allowed us to experience

whole? What about collaboration

threefolding as an existential issue

with the Youth Section? The

and no longer as a sidetrack of

most striking impression of this

anthroposophy? In any case, we

weekend was the contrast of

social scientists or artists should

moods:

listen

Society

powerlessness

as

in

the

attentively

whether

Section for Social Sciences, and a

further

still unfocused mood of something

tasks come to us from the Youth

new in the Youth Section [Section

Section.

for the Spiritual Striving of Youth],

Dr. Michael Wilhelmi Köpenickerstr. 174 D-10997 Berlin m.wilhelmi@t-online.de

with the clear question: How can those who are more experienced create

‘landing

opportunities’

questions,

for

impulses

or

Translation from German by Helen Lubin

for the unstable but strong will impulses? Or: How can the high spirits that were also alive in the Achberg

conferences

intact

one’s

in

daily

remain routine?

13

Threefolding and European Integration

is

a

and

method working

of

thinking

which

needs

to be adapted any time to 1. The

14

invitation

to

our

given circumstances. In our

meeting speaks of “windows

cooperation

of

when we create communities,

opportunity”

to

realise

this

what extend those windows

orientation and direction in our

exist.

certainly

action following the ideals of

not wait for them to come.

“liberté” for spiritual, “égalité”

Together

for legal and “fraternité” for

should with

others

can

others,

threefolding. We will see to We

method

with

give

us

everybody can start action any

economical life.

time at the place in society

4. It is my wish and my

where he stands, may his

suggestion for the future work

activity be small or large.

of our section that we apply

2. We all know: there are

this method more seriously

many large or small social

and more often than in the

organisms in the one big

past one of the most important

organism of mankind. In these

social

organisms the three functional

time, the process of European

areas of social life always exist:

Integration. This process has

spiritual, legal and economical

been going on for six decades

life. Our task is to bring them

and will continue for many

into a harmonious balance

others.

allowing sane social conditions

5. This process affects us all

to emerge.

and we may all participate in

3. In this sense threefolding

modelling its future shape.

phenomena

of

our

We may do this either as

the substance of the various

citizens of the EU or as citizens

policies. NGOs will get more

of its partner countries, be

opportunities to make their

it in Europe or overseas. All

voice heard through new rules

of us, therefore, belong to a

on participative democracy.

multinational

group,

• The subjects of European

a fact which may give to

policy will concern questions

our common work in this

of great importance for life on

field of research a particular

earth such as climate change,

concreteness.

energy consumption, peace

6. Why

do

social

I

make

this

and security, financial and

proposal for the future work of

economical order, systems of

our section? Here are my main

social security and healthcare,

reasons:

education, nutrition and many

• The Lisbon-Treaty came into

more.

force on 1 December 2009.

• In view of these new

A new phase of European

developments and in advance

unification begins. There is a

to the availability of the new

lot of new dynamic potential

instrument of a “Citizens’

giving

Initiative”

opportunities

for

the

European

threefolding. If we speak of

Alliance

of

windows

Applied

Anthroposophy

of

opportunities,

Initiatives

for –

here is one opening itself for

ELIANT – has collected 1 million

the next ten years at least.

signatures to get support for

• The centre of gravity of the

its objectives. ELIANT calls for

debate within the EU will shift

a legal framework securing

from institutional matters to

the individual freedom of

15

choice of citizens for their

Section studies the proposals

lifestyle

with

of Gerald Häfner and his

regard to agriculture and

author colleagues in their

nutrition, healthcare as well

book “Europe, not without

as education. The Alliance

us!” Very instructive also is

will use the great support

the book of Norman Waage,

obtained

a

particularly

to

defend

its

Norwegian

journalist,

demands in Brussels to the

“Man, Market Power” which

benefit of all citizens.

discusses Rudolf Steiners social

• This is just an example

impulse under the perspective

showing

of globalisation.

the

necessity

but also the possibility to overcome the euro-scepticism

16

7. So, let us intensify our

which still exists notably in

discussions

on

the

Anthroposophical

important

subject

of

circles.

Constructive contributions to

“Europe” in the light of

shape the European future

newest developments and

have to be conceived and put

beyond of what has been

into motion.

done

• This requires a more intense

Netherlands

discussion in our Section.

(2005), Budapest (2007)

For instance, I would like to

and Prague (2008). We

argue with Wilhelm Neurohr

should

about his polemic on what

positive results European

he calls a “Europe in a crisis

integration has brought

of democracy”. I hold it

about

to be important that our

working

in

Alfter

(2004),

and

analyse

for

Kassel

what

living

conditions

and in

Europe

so

far,

which

deficiencies have to be overcome

and

What Shall We Do About Ahriman?

which

contributions the EU can

Rudolf Steiner tells us „…there

offer to manage the world

is only one book of wisdom.“

wide tasks I mentioned

The challenge of our time is to

before.

determine whether or not this

Jürgen Erdmenger, Brussels j.erdmenger@brutele.be

wisdom is in the hands of Ahriman or the Christ. Dr Steiner then says, „It cannot come into the hands of 1

Christ unless people fight for it.“

How shall we do this? How can the goals of human evolution be realized in the middle of the Ahrimanic forces pouring into our times. What can we, mere individuals, do to impede Ahriman and better serve Michael and the Christ?

Dr. Steiner tells us that

there is much we can do. “People must learn from spiritual science to find the key to life and so to be able to recognize and learn to control the currents leading towards the 2

incarnation of Ahriman.”

1 The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman 65-66 2 The Incarnation of Ahriman 69

17

Ahriman and Lucifer are alive

of his henchmen. This is not new

and well in each of us, in the

information for anthroposophists.

anthroposophical movement, and

On the other hand, there is good

in the world.

The more we do

news: through human activity, it

our work well, the more we may

is possible to help Ahriman serve

find ourselves attacked by negative

humanity.

forces.

When Jesus of Nazareth

endure him only; we can work to

received the Christ into his being

make Ahriman a helper of human

at the baptism of John, he is first

beings.

recognized him by Lucifer and

Aside from the obvious reality of

Ahriman in the temptations in the

materialism in our time, Rudolf

desert. Where the Christ is active,

Steiner gives us many other hints

these forces will show up to undo

on how we are preparing for

our work. Thus, we are all fair

Ahriman’s activities. It is important

game. The task is to stay awake

to be conscious of these in

and

ourselves and in our work.

identify

these

influences,

especially in ourselves.

We do not have to

As my

colleague, Denis Klocek says, once

First comes the bad news. At the

we can see these forces working in

risk of being superficial and overly

us, we need to tell them, “Thank

organized, I list below some of the

you for sharing, please sit down.”

ways in which we make Ahriman’s job easy. When deeply considered,

The bad news, in one sense, is that

each of these can also become a

Ahriman is coming, and there is

tool for discernment in living the

nothing we can do about it.

In

„examined life.“ The following,

addition, collective humanity is

in no particular order, are helping

helping his incarnation and that

Ahriman’s incarnation:

18

Disregarding weightiest truths.

Getting caught up in fears like

Ignoring or discounting our spiritual

anthrax, swine flu, and global

selves and our destinies in the world

warming without understanding

and in human evolution create the

the science behind them is a great

greatest bridge for Ahriman.

help to Ahriman.

Believing that

science will save us from ourselves Denying or ignoring the spiritual

is equally helpful to him.

nature of the human being. The idea that we are only our biology

Seeing the world as a duality of

permeates much of the world

good versus evil. The American

today. As higher animals, some say

statements concerning „the axis

we bear no spiritual responsibility

of evil“ are an excellent example

for one another. Ahriman delights

of this.

in this.

blame whether or not it is Osama

Some devil is always to

Bin Laden or George Bush. Adam Seeing

the

world

a

said, „Eve made me do it;“ Eve

„great mechanism“ only and

said, „The devil made me do it.“

maintaining

scientific

It’s always someone else’s fault. We

superstition. This makes science

play a dangerous game of shaming

into a new religion and creates

and blaming others, of thinking in

„scientific

a

blacks and whites, of seeing the

When we

world as a duality of good and evil.

think mechanistically, we create

To think in this way is a failure to

disharmony in our waking and

see the complexity of our times and

sleeping. We see this today in the

to take responsibility for them. It is

this

superstition

prevailing dogma.“

as

as

enormous rise in sleep disorders, 3

especially among our teenagers.

3 The Incarnation of Ahriman 20

19

a failure to seek the role of Christ

to this end. They often put truth

as a balance between Lucifer and

beyond reach because figures can

Ahriman.

be divorced from the qualitative aspects of life.

Organizing our lives too much.

Efficiency is not a bad thing in

Sowing

conflicts

itself, but it needs to leave enough

groups and getting them to

room for real human meeting and

attack each other.

conversation.

in

family,

race,

between Whether

tribe,

faculty

meetings in a Waldorf school, or superficial

Anthroposophical groups, we are

We often do not dig

all very busy in this area. This does

beneath the surface of things.

not mean that conflict is bad, but

We Google life, and think we

that it is there to challenge us to

have it.

new perspectives, not polarize us.

Living intellect.

in

the

We put the world and

its people into convenient boxes that rest on the surface of realities.

Living

We

sidedness

anthroposophists

can

be

in

dogmatic and

one-

endorsing

especially guilty in this area when

national chauvinism. Any firmly

we say things like: „He’s just so

held ideology can create discord.

phlegmatic. No one can work with

The forming of political parties

someone who is so choleric. Plastic

creates ideology at the expense of

should never touch the lips of small

human beings. We often think it is

children.“

more important to be right than to of

find a way to work through issues

We are

to something larger than ourselves.

especially good at using statistics

„National Chauvinism, perverted

Proving

things

instead

experiencing them.

20

patriotism in every form, is the

world.

material from which Ahriman will

as people ask things like, „How

4

build exactly what he needs.“

We see this everywhere

does spiritual understanding help me to acquire stuff?

How does

Believing in the great Ahrimanic

a Waldorf education help me to

deception that economics drives

get a good job?“ In this regard,

world history and that the

Rudolf Steiner states: „Europeans

economist knows all. We turn

and their American appendages are

to economists today for answers.

devourers of the spirit.“

6

Dr. Steiner actually says economists have replaced initiates in our times.

Involving

He adds, „We must not imagine

or quarter truths.

that the rulers of our times are

more harmful than total errors or

anything other than economists.“

5

ourselves

in

half

These are

outright lies. They create insecurity,

We need only look to things like

fear, and confusion.

the International Monetary Fund,

therefore, the marketer’s delight.

the World Trade Organization,

If we just drink the right beer, use

or groups like the US Council on

the right toothpaste, and drive the

Foreign Relations to recognize this.

right kind of car, we will be whole

Naomi Kline’s Shock Doctrine does

human beings. We accept these lies

a lovely job of revealing this reality.

and deceive ourselves easily in small

Believing that public welfare

fractions.

depends only on providing the

Believing in fixed creeds of

economic and material needs

any kind.

of humanity.

anthroposophy.

Providing material

needs is important, but this alone will not solve the problems of the

They are,

This includes blind Concerning

4 The Incarnation of Ahriman 72 5 The Incarnation of Ahriman 26 6 The Incarnation of Ahriman 40

21

Christianity, if we see the world

the right entry point of interest.

solely through scripture or through

„It is we, not the world, who

one gospel alone, Rudolf Steiner

are at fault.“ We cannot use our

tells us we will be lead to the

weariness as an excuse to become

„hallucination of Christ.“

unconscious.7

The

rise of religious fundamentalism worldwide from Christianity to

Falling into „pickle jars.“ Pickle

Islam is a case in point Any kind of

jars, Dr. Steiner tells us, are libraries

religious fundamentalism prepares

and universities filled with theses

a good place for Ahriman, such

no one will ever read. They may

as the Koran only, secular science

also be lawyer’s dossiers, the piles

only, denominational instruction of

of papers of proofs, and books with

any kind. An excellent BBC film on

little real interest in human beings.

this is „The Power of Nightmares“

I have my own piles of paper, my

which documents the rise of the

little pickle jars. Sometimes I think

Christian right in America as Islamic

Ahriman wants to bury us under

fundamentalism rises in Muslim

paper.

countries.

from Ahriman to Lucifer. „It is

Steiner gives a little quote

advantageous to make use of pickle Fostering drowsy unawareness

jars….To you I will leave people’s

through

find

stomachs if you will leave it to me

ourselves exhausted and at a loss

to lull to sleep the awareness of

for energy, and then blame the

their stomachs.“8

state of the world and our lives.

Eating and drinking things of

Rudolf Steiner tells us that a dry

the physical and spiritual worlds

cash book can be as interesting as

unconsciously. How often are we

the Sistine Madonna if we can find

7 The Incarnation of Ahriman 58 8 The Incarnation of Ahriman 45-47

22

tedium.

We

conscious of the gifts that fill our

asleep in the arms of Lucifer, so

gustatory needs? How often do

Ahriman can do his work.

we grab a sandwich on the run, eat at our desks? How often do

Taking things in only through

we quote Rudolf Steiner out of

the head without the heart;

context or without thinking things

living with abstractions of any

through? How conscious are we

kind.

in our lives

work can be especially guilty of

We

in

anthroposophical

this. We need the heart’s balance.

Eating

and

cleverness.

drinking

for

Intellectual life without warmth

Marketing

tells

leads us into the world of pickle

us that we will be smarter and

jars.9

cleverer if we just eat and drink certain products. Today in America

Taking things in through the

we even have a brand of bottled

heart and the head, and doing

libation

Water.

nothing with them, otherwise

We now have pharmaceutical

known as weakness of will.

solutions, from Ritalin to Prozac, to

Speaking of and loving spiritual

help enhance our intelligence and

things, but not carrying these into

deal with human issues.

the activities of everyday life creates

called

Smart

a wonderful working space for Taking things in only through

Ahriman. Love of anthroposophy,

the heart without the head. It

knowledge of anthroposophy is

is easy to get lost in our silks and

not enough.

felted angels, or any other stuff

Quantifying

that makes us feel good and brings

Testing in education, „No Child

us bliss. Here we are then safely

9 The Incarnation of Ahriman 109

qualitative

Life.

23

Left Behind,“ statistics without

on Christmas, 1919, Dr. Steiner’s

qualitative considerations all fall

words are enough clear: „We have

into this category.

no right to forget the widespread suffering, the widespread sorrow of gossip

our times….It is our duty to allow

to sway our common sense.

all symptoms of decline in human

Steiner has strong things to say

civilization

about envy and gossip because

our thoughts and penetrate right

they

through to the Christmas Tree.“11

Allowing

envy

undermine

and

our

collective

today

to

permeate

work for the future. As he puts

Then there is the good news,

it, „We cannot on the one hand

the ways in which we can help

want to take part in the processes

Ahriman serve humanity.

of the cosmos, and on the other

are things we can all do in our daily

hand make derogatory remarks

lives. They are not so easy, but self-

about our fellow human beings in

development is not a path of ease.

These

the widespread way this happens in restaurants and clubs in this

Control

thinking

bourgeois age.“10

abstractions.

and

avoid

The practice of

spiritual science asks us to develop Fear mongering and submitting

an inner discipline of thinking. As

to

media,

Dr Steiner puts it. We must „gain

marketing, our politicians, and

control over our thinking just as

to some degree some of our

we have control over our hands

movement is interested in creating

and legs.“12 This also means that

fear.

The

news

a kind of fear which paralyzes us.

Forgetting

the

widespread

suffering of the earth. Writing

24

10 The Incarnation of Ahriman 100 11 The Incarnation of Ahriman 84 12 Past and Future Influences in Social events, 3 March 1919.

we need to know the difference

Be conscious and interested

between

in the world.

living

thinking

and

abstractions.

awake.

We need to stay

As Dr. Steiner reminds

us, one of the main tasks of See the world with three-fold

humanity today is „to live towards

eyes.

We need to move out

the incarnation of Ahriman with

of duality and see how we can

such alert consciousness that this

balance Lucifer and Ahriman with

incarnation can serve to promote

the Christ. This threefoldness is

higher, spiritual development.“14

everywhere, in our bones, our education, and our beings.

It is

Know science.

We need to

also in our interactions with one

develop an exact knowledge of

another, and it is crucial that we

science as much as we are able.

begin to work with Dr. Steiner’s

We need to educate ourselves

picture of the threefold nature

through scientific illusion to spiritual

of social life, the three-fold social

substance. We need to love the

organism.

facts and know how to use them with common sense. We need to

Develop inner strength.

This

guide science and technology to

comes with our daily review of

serve human needs. Young people

the day, the practice of the six

in New York are reading Rudolf

basic exercises, and our continued

Steiner in „book slams.“ A group

struggle on the path of self

gathers, studies and discusses a

development. Dr. Steiner tells us

text in a weekend. Those who live

that „Inner strength alone can

too far away to attend are present

enable anthroposophy to achieve it goals.“13

13 The Incarnation of Ahriman 9 14 Past and Future Influences in Social events, 3 March 1919

25

through Skype and can take part in

ditch, we need to pull him out, no

the process. Thus Ahriman is foiled

matter the day of the week and

by his own technology.

societal prohibitions. We need to look again and again at our values

Conduct affairs not for material

and how they are playing out in life

ends alone but for the free

– from the Waldorf curriculum to

spiritual life.

our national policies.

This is one area in

which we in our movement may be impeding Ahriman well. Working

Refrain

actively for Anthroposophia is, for

and things that drive wedges

most of us, more a labor of love

between people.

than a way to pad the packet.

advises us as follows in this area.

from

envy,

gossip

Dr. Steiner

„We need to leave ambition to one Seek beyond the hallucination

side, but nevertheless, the most dire

of Christ to the Christ within

manifestations of it exist within the

the self and the other. This is

anthroposophical movement, and

best done where two or three are

mutual envy is on the increase.“15

gathered together, and we can

We have much work to do in this

practice finding the Christ in one

area.

another.

Work against hatred, bitterness Radically re-evaluate all values.

and resentment in our own

Nothing is quite as it seems in the

souls.

consciousness-soul age.

The Ten

sometimes minute-by-minute, task,

Commandments no longer apply

and it takes rigorous self honesty,

in all circumstances. For instance,

and the constant process of asking

if the donkey is suffering in the

these forces to sit down and behave

26

This is a daily task,

themselves rather than allowing

our interest--which is itself luciferic-

them to take over our souls.

-we can wrest from Ahriman what is his own.“17 Michael, our current

Face fear with courage. There

Time Spirit, needs us to love his

is nothing wrong with fear as long

regency. When he sees our interest

as we can examine it with our

and enthusiasm, he will help us.

thinking and use it to create the courage we need. Fear is useful

Widen the zone of individual

in this regard. The crucial thing is

comfort.

not to allow fear to bring us into a

narrowly and only in the range that

paralysis of will.

gives us a sense of well-being. It

We often think very

is so important to be able to move Tell the truth. It is not always so

beyond this range, to see through

easy to speak one’s point of view.

the eyes of others and to become,

Instead we hold back to be nice,

in the process, true global citizens.

and then gossip later about what another has said. In the end, this

Practice,

is detrimental to our work. „What

Spirit remembering, sensing and

is required of us is to courageously stand up and tell the truth as far as we are able.“16 Live life with enthusiasm for and interest in our times. We

practice,

practice.

envisioning are gifts from the Christmas

Foundation

Practicing

in

them

Meeting. makes

us

instruments for the good beings of the cosmos and weakens Ahriman.

need to stop complaining and get busy with the work that needs to be done all around us. Then, „through

15 The Incarnation of Ahriman 100 16 The Incarnation of Ahriman 112-113 17 The Incarnation of Ahriman 57

27

Bear the burden of the earth

to consider these days, and ponder

with Michael and the Christ.

in our hearts.

The times are going to be hard,

much we can do about Ahriman.

there is no doubt about it, and we need to see them with as much clarity as we can muster.

Darfur or next door, may be there May the

sacrifices of the downtrodden of the earth not be in vain. When we watch the anguish of the world on the evening news, we need to hold that pain in our hearts and work towards agape love, i.e. the love that is too great for others to hurt us. Often as I think about these things I am reminded of the Pieta.

Perhaps Anthroposophia today is like the mother of Christ carrying the broken body of her Son.

pelicanmeg@earthlink.net

Sources Steiner, Rudolf. The Fall of the Spirits of Darkness. Trans. Anna Meuss. Given in Dornach 29 September to 28 October, 1917.

Bristol, England: Rudolf Steiner Press, 1993.

Steiner, Rudolf. The Incarnation of Ahriman. Trans. Matthew Barton.

Forest Row: Rudolf Steiner Press, 2006.

Steiner, Rudolf. The Influences of Lucifer and Ahriman. Trans. D.S. Osmond.

Hudson, New York: Anthroposophic Press, 1993.

Steiner, Rudolf. Past and Future Impulses in Social Events – Lecture III & V, unpublished trans. of Soziales Verständnis aus geisteswis senschaftlicher Erkenntnis by Maria St. Goar.

If

we anthroposophers can learn to carry the sorrows of our world in our arms with as much equanimity as Mary Sophia, we will be able to help Ahriman serve the human being. These are the many things

28

Margaret Gorman, US-Santa Fe

The

afflictions of the world, whether in for our consciousness.

There is, in fact,

GA Numbers: GA 190, Lectures 3 & 5 GA 191, Lectures 2 & 3 GA 193, Lectures 3 & 4 GA 194, Lecture 1 GA 195, Lectures 6 & 7

Section Discourse

circumstances, rigid schools and

Since 2000, a lot has changed in

mounting violence, and by drugs,

the social realm – as Rudolf Steiner

hard rock, and a lack of genuine

saw already 100 years ago, and

role models among adults. Young

as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

people’s new capacities include

wrote in his fairy tale already 200

that they are not so easily undone,

years ago. For young people today,

that they have more intact pre-birth

there are other solutions than at

memories and are more clairvoyant

the time of the French Revolution.

than what one has been familiar

Liberty, equality and fraternity find

with until now.

their expression today in: free, cool, in. For youth, these are specific,

Cool: Young people know how

meaningful terms.

much strength they will need in order to bring to realization

Free: youth would like to be free

the tasks with which they have

from ideologies and –isms. They

come into the world.

are looking for genuine spiritual

impotence, mafias, media, injustice,

life, and if they don’t get it from

etc. hit young people most deeply.

us,

This is an area in which the power

they

become

destructive,

depressive or apathetic. Young

Judicial

of ideals is easily abused.

people are coming with new and

In: Young people have a deep

educators have also finally noticed

longing to grow together with

this. There are books on indigo

others and with the world. Real

children

diamond

brotherhood is self-evident. One

children. This is what we all were

sees this in unsound phenomena as

before we were damaged by family

well, such as pot-smoking circles.

capacities.

Psychologists

–

even

on

29

So free – cool – in is the new

mystery dramas, bestowed a new

impulse of threefolding. The irritant

pedagogy and gave new impulses

is the unwanted partner: the state,

in all directions. In the end we have

which is still paternally positioned,

no other option than to be truthful

directing and determining many

with young people – and to thereby

things. Old Caesars would be

begin the social art.

jealous!

Ane ka Janátová anezka.janatova@akademietabor.cz

Nevertheless,

many

people expect it to provide an unconditional, basic income. A consequence would be that all existing social benefits would be cut.

We see just how much forethought Rudolf Steiner had when he spoke about associations, about truly equal rights for all, and about freedom in spiritual matters. How can we help young people? Through genuine art! Art in speaking, in singing, in making music, and in movement. Young people need new mysteries – mysteries that help one understand and master one’s own destiny. They wish to be truly creative and to understand why, what and who they are.

This is why Rudolf Steiner wrote

30

Translation from German by Helen Lubin

The Finance and Economic Crisis – Expression of our Shortcomings in Knowledge and Meaning

new phenomenon, they happened through many centuries.

3. A comprehensive history of the finance crisis in modern times has been published by Reinhart & Rogoff

18

.

4. Finance and economic crisis are Summary of Statements at Social

intimately linked together.

Science Section

5. The enacted policy of economic

Goetheanum,

Meeting at The November

26-28

globalization

which

forcefully

in Dornach and lecture at the

pushed in the past decade resulted

Goetheanum November 30, 2009

now in worldwide impacts caused

1. The current worldwide finance

by the US crisis

and economic crisis was caused

6. In addition, regulators and

by an

politicians closed both eyes when

1.1 overextension of credit, and a

it came to assessing the risks of

reduction in loan standards

banking

1.2 an interest rate policy by the

„innovations“ and the connection

Federal Reserve that kept interest

to the more traditional savings

rates too low for too long causing

and loan function of banks. The

the US housing market to build

Glass-Steagall Act didn’t allow up

price bubbles and

to 1999 mixing traditional savings

1.3

Economic

and

deregulation

investments,

financial

globalization

and loan function with highly risky

of

new financial instruments created

financial

markets.

by investment bankers, such as

2. Banking, finance and herewith

collateral debts obligations, etc

connected economic crisis are not a

18 Carmen Reinhart / Kenneth Rogoff This Time Is Different (2009)

31

7. The stage was set by 1999 for a

where we are in the development

a speedy extension of credit to the

of the current crisis.

world economy.

11. The consequences, such as

8. China, Japan and other export

economic and social costs of the

oriented economies reinvested the

banking crisis are huge.

US Dollars from their exports in US

12. We can ask the question

treasuries and over time switched

therefore if the current knowledge

to mortgage backed securities as

about

they were made available and were

the real economy and finances is

sold as a more profitable alternative

sufficient to deal with this crisis

to treasuries.

appropriately and to prevent similar

9. It was the time of a free market

crisis in future.

dogma.

13. The fundamental model that

The housing prices, not

the

the

Housing

based on is that of Adam Smith’s

and

income

understanding

of

only in the US rose constantly. prices

current

interconnections

is

development became disconnected

„invisible hand“ markets.

The

and eventually the housing and

17th century has long passed by

credit markets crashed.

and economists are indebted to write

society to overcome the old and

in their book, finance crisis, on

insufficient underpinnings of their

average, result in a reduction of

models.

housing prices by 35%, stock

through a never before in human

markets sink 55%, unemployment

history experienced explosion of

increases by 7% and government

division of labor, industrialization,

debts increase in the aftermath

automation, innovation on a global

of a banking crisis by 86%. Those

scale and we are basically thinking

numbers can serve us as a gauge

in many aspects of our science

10.

32

As

Reinhart/Roggoff

The real world went

as a 17th century affair. In other

(buying, loaning and gifting), will

fields of science, humanity made

we be able to overcome the current

quantum loops in explaining real

crisis of knowledge in economics

world phenomenon – not so in

and finance.

economics.

16. During modern times and

14. It is my opinion that we

especially

are confronted with a crisis of

World

knowledge,

crisis

evolved foremost into beings of

shows dramatically that finance

consumption. This distorted idea

and the real economy cannot

of what constitutes a human being,

be understood and acted upon

resulted in unreal idea of humanity

independently.

are

and its tasks. It results in a crisis of

interdependent.

meaning. The banking crisis was

Financial markets and real markets

partly caused by an overemphasis

are closely connected and cannot

of the consumptive character of

left

entities.

human nature. The totality of

Adam Smith’s idea of markets

our needs cannot be satisfied by

as self-regulating entities where

consumptive actions alone. But we

many individuals are exchanging

spend much of our waking time

goods and services does not reflect

devoted to consumption.

today’s realities where powerful

17. Theory of finance, economics

transnational

and

because

intimately

as

the

The

self-regulating

two

organizations

in

War

a

the II.

better

time

Human

after beings

understanding

dominating markets and nation

of the monetary and finance

state’s policies.

systems, which keeps in focus the

15. Only if we are able to

interconnections

understand and establish the real

parts, will lead us out of the current

fundamental functions of money

crisis of boom and bust cycles.

among

those

33

18. From a Threefolding point of view (social organic understanding of economic activities) we could

We Have No Choice: It’s About the Sacred and the Profane

have responded to the need of more and better housing to the

1. Allow me a short comment on

American people in a different way

yesterday evening’s remarks by

than replacing the internet stock

Péter Takáts of Hungary:

market bubble in the year 2000

The question came to me: Could

by a housing bubble that increased

it be that you have an image of

home ownership temporarily with

Hungary that doesn’t at all exist?

people who could never afford

I maintain that I’m a Hungarian.

the

being

Why? I grew up with Hungarian

lured into. Either we could have

music and, as a music student,

made housing more affordable

focused

by educating people better and

– especially Zoltán Kodály. His

increase their pay. Or we could

concept of conservatory training

have decided as a society to make

for music teachers in German

housing more affordable to people

secondary schools has presumably

with lower incomes by designing

be applied more in Germany than

more robust and smaller affordable

in Hungary! The main aspect was

houses in cities which would have

the schooling of inner auditory

reduced commuting times, saved

representation. – We can also

resources and would lead to more

look at other composers such

livable inner cities over the whole

as Béla Bartók, who assiduously

country.

collected Hungarian folk music,

Alexander Rist, Seattle, 12/31/2009 alexjrist@msn.com

but also studied and worked with

34

houses

they

were

on

Hungarian

music

African and Asiatic motifs. Then

there is Franz Liszt. And, for me,

this? Fundamentally nothing new,

the greatest was and is György

and that is quite important in

Ligeti, with his ‘Atmosphères.’ Let’s

connection with threefolding; that

look at authors: Ephraim Kishon is

is, often we only need to look more

known the world over, yet more

exactly at what is already reality.

notable is Imre Kertész, Nobel

I love the word ‘profane,’ usually

laureate in literature and director

interpreted

of the Art Academy in Berlin. In

Looked at more closely, ‘profane’

the visual arts, mention should

actually means ‘to stand before

be made of Moholy Nagy, who

the sacred,’ derived from ‘pro’,

became the successor of Johannes

meaning ‘before’, and ‘fanum’,

Itten as master teacher at the

meaning sacred place. From this

Bauhaus.

one can deduce – and this is the

What can be inferred from this for

essential thing – that in the profane

our theme?

the gesture toward the sacred is

Tenet

1:

Threefolding

means

simply

as

‘worldy.’

already contained. One just has to

always seeing the other side, i.e. if I

recognize it.

look at political Hungary, I mustn’t

Let’s look more closely at the pair

forget about spiritual Hungary.

of concepts: ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’.

And this spiritual Hungary has long

I could have also said inward-

since outgrown its borders; put

outward or esoteric-exoteric. These

maliciously: has long since become

paired concepts, as well as our

westernized. And that has been

experience in dealing with them,

good for it and for us.

already show very clearly that

2. Now to my topic: We have no

the one is not capable of existing

choice: it’s about the sacred and

without the other. But no single

the profane. What do I mean by

one of these concepts makes the 35

gesture toward the other as clearly

First World War the seeds for

as does the word ‘profane’. This

threefolding were planted, but

also means that in the end we

that a stagnation settled in already

have to confront the profane with

just a few years later. I’ll now bring

the same devotion as the sacred.

to that the following thoughts:

And the attitude toward the sacred

Threefolding has always existed

runs the danger of losing itself

and will continue to do so. What

in excessive adoration if it does

matters is only that we bring it to

not bear within itself the gesture

life. Yesterday Tom Tritschel briefly

towards the profane. From this

referred to artist Josef Beuys. Beuys

follows:

concerned

Tenet 2: One’s point of departure,

threefolding for many years, and

or the social happening that is the

spoke on the subject in many public

starting point, already has within it

presentations. In a conversation

the energy of the direction in which

with Rainer Rappmann in 1975,

one has to continue thinking and

he said the following: „Steiner

doing. This means: no economic life

didn’t invent anything at all, but

without spiritual life and the rights

rather only observed everything,

sphere, no rights sphere without

and then described what he had

the spiritual and the economic, and

seen.“ Beuys recognized very well

so forth.

that threefolding isn’t just a new

3: Reflections on Paul Mackay’s

concept alongside others, but is

first point regarding the seeds and

rather a description of what really

the development of threefolding:

already is. Here Beuys recalled, in

Paul Mackay said – not word

the same conversation, a speech of

for word, but in a general sense

Abraham Lincoln (the Gettysburg

– that in the years following the

Address) in which Lincoln described

36

himself

with

social

the nature of democracy in a

One element is the idea, or, put

threefold

more

form:

‘Democracy

is

simply,

the

attempt

government of the people, by the

communicate

people and for the people.’ From

other element is the form, the

this follows: Rudolf Steiner did not

structure, whose nature it is to

threefold the social organism, but

be in conflict with the content of

rather looked at it, described it

the communication. From this the

and diagnosed it, and then made

following can be derived for our

relevant therapeutic suggestions.

work:

This makes it understandable that

Tenet 4: Art teaches us that not

Rudolf Steiner again and again

everything

draws on the comparison with the

to reality as we have created or

human organism. From this follows

imagined it, and, at the same time,

a further tenet:

that something can also come

Tenet 3: It is the task of the Section

about from incompatible elements.

that individuals communicate to

This means: Threefolders should

each other what they see and from

develop a passion for things and

what perspective, and where one

processes that seem to be removed

has already begun therapy.

from reality and are, furthermore,

4. Regarding the artistic sense that

not related to each other at first

Paul Mackay addressed yesterday:

sight. This keeps us awake to

Art – I maintain – cannot convey

what is new in the sense of what

any real facts. For art is something

is essential, and doesn’t allow the

that takes place outside of reality.

impression to come about for the

It comes about by at least two

younger generation that we are

incompatible

being

‘from the day before yesterday’.

brought together and integrated.

Things can, by all means, also

elements

has

something.

to

to

The

correspond

37

just remain more diffuse. We

which is not subject to a steady,

are also allowed to operate with

consolidated order. And it is the

muddyconcepts, i.e. concepts that

imponderables that are essential,

are not cleanly defined. What is

because they lead us out of the

meant by that is shown by the

forecourt of the sacred to the

following little story:

profane and into the sacred itself.

Sometime in the 30’s the three

Prof. Dr. Walter Kugler Postfach 135 CH-4143 Dornach expo@rudolf-steiner.com

physicists

Nils

Bohr,

Werner

Heisenberg and Carl Friedrich von Weizsäcker arranged to go on a

Translation from German by Helen Lubin

ski vacation together in the Black Forest. The gentlemen took turns cooking and washing up. When it was Nils Bohr’s turn – he was the oldest of the three – the washing up took unusually long. Hours later Nils Bohr came to his colleagues, pointed to a glass held in his hand and said: Isn’t this a miracle? I had dirty dishes, soon also dirty water, and a none-too-clean dish towel.

And the outcome? A clean glass!

– Since then it has been legitimate

The Future of Social Threefolding On Friday 27 November about 60 people from the Section for Social Sciences and the YouthSection came together for a couple of hours to speak about the future of social threefolding. This was the invitation:

in physics to work with concepts

300º: A Conversation about the

that are not cleanly defined.

Future of Social Threefolding The

We would like to come together to

undefined, the indeterminate, that

listen to each other and to share

What

38

follows

from

this?

possibilities for the future of social

possible. We probably won’t have

threefolding. We are searching for

the full 360 degree view, but we’re

many answers, not just one. This

striving for at least 300 – hence the

isn‘t a time for disagreement or

name of the session.

argument, but rather time for a weaving together of a variety of

This meeting is open to those

perspectives and streams. In the

who already feel connected to the

words of Peter Block: „The answer to how is yes!“ and in our words the answer to why is of course.

In order to explore these many answers and new questions, we’ll

threefoldingimpulse.

You

don‘t

have to be a ‚ threefolding expert,‘ but this is also not an introductory meeting. We want to take this opportunity to think about and

use a method similar to World Café

create the next steps. We hope

as a tool. It will hopefully allow

these steps will be as diverse as the

us to include as many views as

people in the room. We want to be 39

able to support each other’s steps

Be open to/ integrate diversity

and even collaborate, should we so

Making information available – using a

choose.

language that speaks to all Making what already exists more visible

These are some of the themes and

Connect existing ideas

ideas that came during the world

A basic understanding of the concepts

cafe around the question „What

Learning more about the practical skills that

next step am I called to take on the

are necessary

path of social threefolding?“:

How to find sustainability in youthful, enthusiastic work?

Research – study

To see the other as threefolded

Awareness – communication

Seek to understand different ideas of

Always

learning

–

working

with

our

threefolding

questions

Looking for seeds of threefolding – finding a

Carry the impulse into your immediate

living example, where is it

community

happening? where is it written?

40

Asking how to bring discussion and

sustainability

knowledge around threefolding to the

Openness to different perspectives

youth?

Threefolding as an artistic process

Walk your talk!

Urban planning out of an understanding of

Finding practical applications

threefolding

Support Nicanor Perlas

Asking the Parcival‘s question „What ails

Explore associative principle that Steiner

thee?“

mentioned but didn‘t develop

Observe – observe – observe the social world

Exploring and strengthening of associations

– what phenomena arise

Finding a common language to talk about

Inner development

threefolding - anyone can understand

Multi-generational work

Phenomenological research study

Diversity

Use art

Working creatively

Working with Beuys‘ expanded concept

Really looking at „What is money?“ and

of art

types of money

Working with an expanded concept of

To explore how to threefold on the micro

41

- meso and macro level Not

limiting

threefolding

We see this brief meeting was a to

the

starting point and we look forward

anthroposophical world – threefolding is a

to continuing this conversation

gift for the world NOW!

into the future.

Asking ourselves the question „How do I need to be for you to be free?“ –

Katie Dobb Youth Section katiedobb@gmail.com

Orland Bishop Looking at the agreements I make in my daily life Being aware and clear of our own needs „How do I connect with money“ Vote with my pocket – my money as my vote COURAGE – ART – CREATIVITY Gift economy Strengthening of a network Live the idea of threefolding Living threefolding The activity and the practice of prototyping

It was a meeting of generations - because this was the first conference

prepared

together

with the Youth Section and the Section for Social Sciences the title: „Coming into Conversation“ was very suitable.

Questions about social renewal, social

threefolding

and

how

one stands and works in the community,

were

worked

on.

ideas

There was also a lot of space for

Tripoly - 21st century board game

participants to ask questions. It

Threefolding as understanding

felt like the discussion did not end

Connect existing ideas

– that it was only a beginning,

Financial liberation for artists/ social artists/

it was indeed a „coming into

future artists - financial

conversation“.

support enabling people to work in the

David F. Luborski dluborski@gmail.com

vocation they want to Networking – for knowledge and support

42

More than 60 younger and older

due

people came together to discuss

element that was unfamiliar to

the work of social science arising

some people. However, was it

out of anthroposophy. It was like a

this blurriness that helped to open

miracle: one participant listened to

up the conversation? It was most

the other and began to understand

interesting that many young people

the other in his own willing and

from the West referred to the late

thinking. What do you mean if

German artist Joseph Beuys, who

you say the world has become

has extended social science to social

one? What does it mean to share

art and to social sculpture. It was

the sufferings of our brothers

a new beginning! There is hope

and sisters on the other side of

for further talks with these active

the earth? How does the modern

young people who extend their

economic life connect everyone

social impulse to an artistic creation

around the world? What is actually

and

meant by ‘social’? What do you

will we continue this beginning

understand by the concept of the

conversation?

threefold social organism?

to

the

impulse

English-language

for

work.

When

Ulrich Rösch ulrich.roesch@goetheanum.ch

When has threefolding ever been talked about in the Goetheanum

Some conversations are „given“:

so intensely and with so much

we understand each other perfectly

interest in the other? Is this due

without any effort. This can lead us

to the fact that, until now, the

further into the future but it also

German language has dominated

is possible to not move forward in

the threefold work? Of course

this type of conversation, especially

some concepts remained imprecise

when

we

are

only

personally 43

interested in being“understood“

organism. This we can create by

– and if we only speak with the

how we listen, how we speak and

people who „understand“ us.

how we look at the world, to all events and phenomena: with our

A second conversation situation could be that we don‘t understand

own eyes and own heart, as often as possible: without expectations given from outside.

each other at all and for this

The true community is created

reason, we don‘t try to speak and

by

listen to each other. We don‘t use

independently and who try to think

the possibility to listen into an

of the world as a whole community

open future which we could create

of people, practising together love

together.

A third type of conversation is when we don‘t understand each other straight away but we strive to understand anyway. We give the possibility for something new to be created. That „new“ can be perceived as a truth – or as a spiritual power – or like an unexpected meeting. A conversation like this is also often an experience which brings us to change our actions.

It is necessary to speak about as many social themes with as many people as possible. It is especially necessary to create daily life from the viewpoint of the true, social 44

individuals

who

and freedom.

Hanna Koskinen hanna.koskinen@goetheanum.ch

think

Work Session: November 26-27, 2009

culture of thinking that can radiate out into the world and stimulate situation-specific

problem-solving

It is only understandable that the

options, and that can spark the

Section first brought to expression

will. The fact that non-members of

its shock over the cancellation

the School of Spiritual Science were

of certain members. Whoever is

also invited had the consequence

not in the position to tolerate the

that members of the Youth Section

otherness of the other, has a long

participated. I consider this to be

way to go…. But I am very grateful

decidedly good fortune sent ‘from

and hopeful that the gathering will

above’! It had to be! Given this

bear fruit. Ulrich Rösch’s closing

situation, Paul Mackay responded

words went to the core of the

with presence of mind by opening

matter: finally the theme of social

up the space. For only with the help

threefolding was (again) being

of the young people can we elders

addressed by a representatively

resolve the omissions of the past.

large and heterogeneous group

So: may we confidently direct our

on Goetheanum soil – by older

gaze to the New Year! I wish us

folks and especially also by youth,

all the necessary strength and the

by representatives of the East and

requisite courage, so that the light

those of the West, in a shared

of insight may come to us!

striving for the quality of the center, which is not a given. The understanding

of

threefolding

– and not least also in regard to the concept of money – must be further

Dr. Friederun Christa Karsch Liebigstrasse 48 D-35037 Marburg Tel. – 49 (0)6421 218 81 Translation from German by Helen Lubin

deepened and evolved toward a 45

Nobel Prize for Obama Messenger of Peace in an Ongoing

of the Nobel Prize Committee.

War

[Beuys], who died in 1986, is the inventor of the ‘extended concept

This

Steingart,

of art’, according to which not only

U.S. correspondent for the news

painters and sculptors but everyone

magazine ‚Der SPIEGEL‘, titles his

can be an artist - also politicians.“

commentary on the Nobel Peace

As to whether Beuys would, in

Prize having been awarded to Barack

fact, have brought Obama‘s (albeit

Obama. This high-level award is

perhaps modern) power politics into

surely more an embodiment of

relationship with „social sculpture“

people‘s hopes than a recognition

is something I dare to doubt.

of

is

how

Gabor

accomplishment.

results

still

display

Obama‘s a

meager

By means of its decision, the

balance sheet. Is the admiration for

Nobel Prize Committee reportedly

Obama an expression of European

wanted to have a stimulating

wishes and yearnings in regard to

effect on Obama. It is expected of

„the most overestimated politician

him that he not only remain the

of all time“ (SPIEGEL TV)?

‚word artist‘, but that he also bring „social sculpture“ to life. Peace as

Perhaps

more

than

a purely figurative device is not

his

enough. The expectations that

reference to the great German

many people have of Obama are

artist: „Joseph Beuys would have

certainly exaggerated. The strength

been amused by this decision

of his contribution could, however,

Steingart‘s

46

important

commentary

is

consist of small steps in the right

it would be too early for an award

direction - towards a society that

ceremony of this kind. Obama

has the humanity of the individual

fascinated millions of people with

at its center, observes the dignity of

a couple of flowery and certainly

the individual, and creates a space

also impressive speeches about the

for shaping society democratically.

closing of the Guantanamo prison that has been violating human

to

rights, with his appearance at the

Steingart, must be in possession of

University of Cairo, which definitely

„an idea of a future, better society,

served to mediate between the

in order to advance it with ‚strength

Western world and the Muslim

of will‘ and ‚intellectual thinking

world, and with his stand, in

capacities‘.“ Whether Obama is up

Prague, for a world without atomic

to the demands of a „social work

weapons. Whether this goes in the

of art“ has so far not been evident.

direction that Beuys described with

For in order for politics to become

the image of „social sculpture“

art requires first of all a vision of the

cannot, to this day, be pinned

self-determining individual, who

down.

A

social

artist,

according

makes visible the social organism as a form in which freedom can

When Beuys says that „every

live. One can perhaps argue that

person is an artist“, what he

an American president, in contrast

means, in particular, is a co-shaper

to a European artist, does not need

of social conditions. The ‚given‘ in

to first put the world of ideas to the

society, people in their manifold

test, but instead should proceed

social

pragmatically by making the world

material with which people create

into a better one. But in that case,

form. The form that they give to

relationships,

are

the

47

the „social sculpture“ is their

view of things, does that which

freely created design for a better

Joseph Beuys called the ‘total

world - not as an invented utopia

work of art’ arise. This action-

but rather a creative configuration

artist often said: ‘Social sculpture

out of the inner lawfulness of the

is

social realm. Beuys works out of

requires that citizens participate

awareness of the formative forces

as shapers of the cultural, political

and brings them into relationship

and economic life. When the

with the human being. In this way,

citizens of the United States of

a new and broader concept of art

America become co-shapers of

comes about: „How can everyone,

their social conditions, and if a

every living person on the earth,

„warmth sculpture“ instead of

become a shaper, a sculptor, of

social strife and coldness between

the social organism? Then one

people would come about, then

reaches a level in the development

the American people as a whole

of art that is much more spiritual

will be entitled to the Nobel Peace

than any previous development

Prize.

a

communion’.“

But

this

of art.“ (Joseph Beuys, in Harlan, Rappmann, Sculpture:

Social

Schata, Material

on

Joseph

Beuys. Achberg 1976, p. 20) Steinhart concludes his commentary by saying that the Nobel Prize demands a lot of Obama, but from us as well: „Only when politicians and the public unite in a shared 48

Gabor Steingart Born in 1962, director of the SPIEGEL offices in Washington, D.C., author. He named his column after the West Wing of the White House - where, in the Oval Office, the President governs. The West Wing houses the offices of the President’s closest advisors, and is also the meeting place of the Cabinet. Decisions made in the West Wing often carry consequences far beyond the US. It is these connections that Steingart demonstrates and evaluates in his analyses and commentaries.

By Ulrich Rösch Translation from German by Helen Lubin

A Refreshing Conference on Owen Barfield Owen Barfield – born in 1898,

English!

died in 1997 at the age of 99

the word which applied to the

– was a man of remarkable depth

whole conference. A man whom

and clarity of mind. Some twenty

I only knew as a linguist, revealed

years ago I came across his ‘History

himself as an enthusiastic dancer,

in English Words’

and ‘Poetic

a great lover of music, a writer

Diction’2 because of my own

of fiction, a lawyer, a dedicated

linguistic studies. They appealed

anthroposophist, a father of two

to me because they contained

adopted children… One of his

a refreshing view on language

grandchildren, Owen A. Barfield,

as a mirror of the change of

was in fact present to show us

consciousness which is continually

photographs of his grandfather.

taking place within humanity.

That was the charming thing

1

‘Refreshing’

is

really

about this conference: people How wonderful was the moment

who

when I heard that a whole

Owen Barfield were present to

symposium would be dedicated

share their experiences with the

to

the

participants (there were about

Redemption of the Western Mind’,

forty participants I guess). This

th

to take place from 27 to 29

was undoubtedly the reason why

March 2009 at the Goetheanum in

I felt his presence so very, very

Switzerland. And how refreshing

near.

it was to read that the whole

Present

conference would be held in

Masters who, if I am correct, still

‘Owen

Barfield

and h

had

known

was

the

and

lively

loved

Brien

49

lives at Forest Row where Barfield

also dwelt at length upon Barfield’s

spent the last years of his life.

other fictional works: ‘The English

During the intermissions he played

People’ (which concludes with the

the music Barfield loved.

fairy tale of ‘The Rose on the AshHeap’), ‘Night Operation’ (about a

There was Jane Hipolito from

future society living in the sewers!)

California who in her touching

and ‘Eager Spring’4 (about an

contribution on Sunday morning

activist going her spiritual journey,

talked about ‘The Mystery of

a modern ‘eco-novella’ written

Love’ in Owen Barfield’s life as it

when he was 90!).

expressed itself through music, dance, language and relationships.

Present was of course the main

She talked about his friendship

organizer of the conference, Simon

with C.S. Lewis which led Barfield

Blaxland-de Lange, writer of ‘Owen

to attend the meetings of that

Barfield: Romanticism Come of

famous group of fiction writers ‘The

Age – a Biography’5. Simon is a

Inklings’ to which also J.R.R. Tolkien

real ‘Englishman’, modest and very

and Charles Williams belonged.

kind, like Barfield himself would

Though Lewis and Tolkien have

have been. In fact, as Christopher

become superstars in the field of

Budd noticed in his contribution,

fiction, it was Barfield who had

Simon did look like Barfield! Well,

written the first fictional work: ‘The

Simon does possess that same

Silver Trumpet’3. The story goes that

clarity of thinking which is the fruit

Tolkien’s children liked this book so

of a well-developed consciousness

much that they asked their father

soul, and this was exactly the

to write something similar and

theme of Simon’s talk which was

thus ‘The Hobbit’ was born! Jane

the kick-off of the conference on

50

Friday: ‘Owen Barfield – English

of consciousness (the main theme

interpreter of the consciousness

in Barfield’s life) to help to reverse

soul age’. The consciousness soul

the downward trend.

is not experienced by what you are, but by what you are not. As

It was also a surprise to me to find

Barfield phrased it: ‘I don’t know

out that Owen Barfield was very

what I am, only what I am not.’

interested and involved in Rudolf Steiner’s ideas concerning the

There was present the German

threefold society. In his humorous

Waldorf

Johannes

contribution ‘Barfield’s Concept

Kiersch, who in his contribution

of Equity and Steiner’s Second

‘Owen

Leading

Earth’ Christopher Budd dwelt

Star

pedagogue Barfield

as

a

for

Waldorf

Curriculum

upon this aspect of Barfield’s

Research’

pleaded

that

the

life. ‘The human being should

Waldorf movement in Germany

replace the economic mantra of

put the works of Barfield on the

Adam Smith.’ As a lawyer Barfield

school

‘Barfield’s

had to deal with ‘equity’ and it

“Rediscovery of Meaning”6 should

is not surprising that the only

become a textbook for teachers.’

article by him on the subject of

Kiersch sketched a rather gloomy

the threefold social organism is

picture of the Waldorf movement

entitled ‘Understanding Equity’7.

in Germany: Waldorf education is

Instead of the ‘this is mine’

becoming less and less Waldorf

mentality concerning property we

education, and it needs people like

should decide: who should get

Barfield, with his emphasis on the

that property?

curriculum.

necessity of the development of the imagination and of the change

For me the highlight of this 51

conference

was

the

beautiful

between

Germany

and

Great

rendering of Barfield’s fairy tale ‘The

Britain he learnt German just in

Rose on the Ash-Heap’ by Simon’s

order to be able to read Steiner’s

wife and storyteller Paulamaria

works in the original! So let’s say

Blaxland-de

their

yes to the title of the conference:

charming daughter Liehsja Andrea

‘Owen Barfield and the Redemption

who played the harp. The music

of the Western Mind’!

Lange

and

was especially composed for this occasion. Paulamaria brought the story’s manifold images to life and

Frits Burger The Hague, The Netherlands f.m.burger@ziggo.nl

the music imbibed the images with dark and light colours, something Barfield

himself

undoubtedly

enjoyed. The theme of this fairy tale is the transformation of love and I experienced therein some echoes from Tantra.

Only now his work is slowly spreading through Europe. And that is why it was such a happy occasion that in the heart of Europe this conference could take place.

For in his life Barfield spent much time and effort to reconcile the West with the Middle of Europe.

In those days of extreme tension 52

First appeared in the Newsletter of the Section for the Literary Arts and Humanities Summer/Autumn 2009.

(Footnotes) 1 Owen Barfield: History in English Words, London 1926. Barfield was 26 years old when he wrote this book!

2 Owen Barfield: Poetic Diction: a study in meaning, London 1973 (first published in 1928).

3 Owen Barfield: The Silver Trumpet, The Bookmakers’ Guild, USA 1986 (first published in 1925).

4 ‘Night Operation’ and ‘Eager Spring’ are published by Barfield Press UK in 2008, an initiative by his grandson Owen A. Barfield. See www.owenbarfield.org.

‘English People’ has not yet been published.

5 Published by Temple Lodge, Forest Row, 2006.

6 Owen Barfield: The Rediscovery of Meaning and other essays, San Rafael, California, 2006 (first published in 1977).

7 available on www.owenbarfield.org

Study Group on „Family Life as a Workplace“ Review 2009 The

anthroposophical

inner

one’s own schooling.

path is already a challenge: I am constantly bumping up against

Following

my inadequacies, inconsistencies

successful family conference, in

and half-heartedness. In a family

which some 120 adults and 90

with children one has a mirror not

children participated in autumn

only inwardly but also right under

of 2008, our activity this year

one’s nose – or better yet: under

didn’t present itself so strongly

one’s feet – in the form of one’s

to the public eye, although a lot

offspring. Often one can’t even

happened nevertheless!

find the famous five minutes of

Instead

quiet, or one’s exhaustion is so

conference,

great that this time can definitely

smaller

not be spent doing a meditation.

courses this year, each focused

Yet daily family life challenges

on a particular theme. Back in

me precisely in the elements that

November 2008 we began with

I can develop on the path of

a course on ‘Temperament and

inner practice: presence of mind,

Constitution’

consciousness of what is around

Dr. Erdmuth Schädel of the Ita

me, mastery of soul life – and, as a

Wegman Clinic in Arlesheim. It is

mother, I of course also absolutely

enormously helpful for daily family

need to be clairvoyant! Thus the

life to recognize one’s own way of

workplace of family life is actually

doing things as well as those of

the ideal place in which to begin

one’s children and partner. If I

the

of

wonderful

having we

offered

continuing

with

a

and

large four

education

pediatrician

53

take these into account as much as

of family karma. The seminar with

possible, there’s a whole pile less of

Rudy Vandercruysse (Heidelberg), ‘I

problems to deal with.

Have No Idea Where My Head Is’,

It was very suitable for springtime

formed the closing of this series. On

and motivating for spring cleaning

the basis of Rudolf Steiner’s lecture

that Linda Thomas (Dornach) gave

‘Overcoming

us a practical course on cleaning in

worked on the exercises contained

March of this year. We very much

in the lecture on strengthening

benefited from her professional

the ‘I’, and discussed ‘on the side’

knowledge

incredibly

the most important issues of the

pragmatic manner. Her ecological

professional mother: overtiredness,

‘balance sheet’ is also astounding:

excessive demands, overload, one’s

using her technique, she is able

own standards….

to clean an entire bathroom with

In September there was a day

200 ml. of water and without

on the theme ‘Spiritual Culture

aggressive cleaning agents!

in the Daily Lives of Mothers and

For organizational reasons, our

Fathers’, which had come about

September

‘Mama,

out of the preparation for the

what are all the things that dear

annual School of Spiritual Science

God can do?’ with priest Claudia

gathering in January. Our study

Stockmann (Zurich and Lausanne)

group has now, in its fourth year

went completely differently than

of existence, turned to the second

planned:

additional

seven-year period, which provided

participant whom we had invited,

the red thread for the content of

we worked for only half a day – but

our weekly meetings. Our primary

intensively – on issues connected to

interest was in comprehending this

the theme of prayer, and came to

stage from perspectives underlying

profound questions on the theme

an understanding of the human

54

and

her

seminar,

With

an

Nervousness’,

we

being: What is meant by „the birth of the etheric body“ in the 7th year? or the „birth of the astral body“ in the 14th year? Rudolf Steiner’s indications on this sevenyear period relate primarily to the situation in school, so we invited Dr. Heinz Zimmermann (Dornach) to hold a lecture on the configuration of the Waldorf curriculum on the basis of this understanding of the human being.

It was new that we worked more intensively with texts by Rudolf Steiner, whereby in the second half of the year non-pedagogical themes came up – questions concerning one’s own inner schooling, which is indeed the foundation for shaping family life.

Franziska Schmidt-von Nell Ingelsteinweg 38, 4143 Dornach Translation from German by Helen Lubin

55

Economic Life at the Threshold Economics Conference

Part of the Social Sciences Section

to

of the School of Spiritual Science

concisely for those German,

speak

deliberately

and

French and Spanish speakers September 27th to 30th, 2009

participating.

L’AUBIER, Neuchâtel, Switzerland New Faculties of Knowledge The 8th annual meeting of the

In his first lecture of his Economics

Economics Conference (www.eco

Course 1922, Rudolf Steiner points

nomics.goetheanum.org)

to a world in which economic life

was attended by members

has to be seriously rethought. The

of the School of Spiritual

call is made to lift the thinking

Science

to a level above what it’s used

of

under

‘Economic

the Life

theme at

the

to in natural science what clearly

Threshold’. Presentations and

points to the knowledge faculties

subsequent discussion of the

of Imagination, Inspiration and

pre-distributed

on

Intuition. These are needed to fully

true price, separating income

comprehend the true nature of

& labor, basic income and

commodities, labor and capital.

papers

the associative principle took place over the course of three

Articles

days just outside Neuchatel,

Review

Switzerland.

Six papers were distributed among

spoke 56

in

We generally English,

mindful

for

Research

and

the participants in advance of the

economics conference so that all

incomes worldwide. The way out:

could be familiar as they were

„Capitalizing the balance sheets

presented. The ensuing dialogue

of the countless individuals whose

and critique among peers provided

initiative is thwarted merely for

the great opportunity to deepen

the want of credit.“ This means

our understanding and will result

connecting

in a published revised conference

creative intelligence as it manifests

document. The following is a

through what we do for one

partial review. A special thanks and

another – the division of labor. In

appreciation are due for: Arthur

practice, this will also require the

Edwards, Marc Desaules, Marc

capitalization of the initiatives and

Theurillat, Christopher Houghton

related intuitions of individuals

Budd and Anita Grandjean.

instead of putting capital into

income

to

human

land. When individuals are properly True Price

remunerated

The twin theory of value, the

Statement) and capitalized (Balance

associative principle and the true

Sheet) a new paradigm can come to

price are axiomatic ideas from the

expression. We can free ourselves

Economics Course of 1922. True

from the financial system the

pricing points to the question of

more we realize and comprehend

labor and income that are at the

that money is accounting and

center of today’s financial crisis.

accounting money.

(Income/Expense

The universal practice of searching for

the

‘lowest

price’

seems

A true price is not absolute and

efficient at first glance, but has

cannot be determined in advance,

resulted in the rise of indebtedness

but needs to be ‘sensed’, as prices

and the chronic reduction of

are in constant flux. Price is derived 57

from the future interplay of values

meeting the world’s and others’

ever fluctuating and difficult to

needs. Fulfilling our destiny in

define. „When you exchange value

meeting human needs. In this

for value, price which arises in the

way we enter the mystery of the

process of exchange is a fluctuating

will, a central aspect of human

thing raised to the second power.“

incarnation. To free people from

(Lecture II R. Steiner July 25, 1922)

labor through an institionalized statewide

unconditional

basic

Egoism: Separating Income &

income may result in undermining

Labor

the will forces and the dignity of

„The

important

point

is

that

the human being in the long run.

working for one’s fellowmen and the object of obtaining so much

Instead of buying and selling

income must be kept apart.“ R.

labor, it is possible to contract with

Steiner, Economy 1922.

each other in a way that everyone becomes a co-entrepreneur. This is

To separate income from labor

not piece-wages, but a contractual

requires that egoism be taken

sharing system agreed too by all.

out of the field of economic life,

Income then is derived contractually

which then leads to true pricing,

from price. This separates direct

not a basic income. The nature of

labor and income. How to enable

‘labor’ isn’t something one does

that each has enough income?

for oneself, but the field where

Pay the true price – pay enough so

one finds one’s mission. ‘Labor’ is

that a like product or service can

really about unfolding one’s own

be enacted again. Can we take

karma and becoming oneself in

into account the other side of the

doing what one is called to do in

transaction as well as our own?

58

The example of the tailor making

The current market paradigm and

his own suit, mentioned in the

approach has set out the entire

economics

lectures

by

Rudolf

economic

Steiner,

demonstrates

the

debate

language

occurs.

The

in

which

associative

importance of mobile imaginative

economic image of the concept

thinking

perceiving

of pricing is one of prices being

that the tailor, unwittingly, works

behavior driven, whereas in the

against a healthy economy by

market concept of pricing, behavior

insisting on making things for

is price-driven. „It simply will not do

himself. This is the acid test for

in economics to think near at hand.

understanding why egoism needs

Such thinking will lead to disaster

to be removed from economic life.

if you let your thoughts be guided

for

clearly

only by what lies in the immediate Reciprocally Related Prices

neighborhood.“ This far-reaching

The effect of each price, each

thinking is also the secret to

local exchange, goes beyond the

understanding

immediate circumstances of the

economically powerful, effect of

transaction to which it relates

the tailor making his own suit.

the

subtle,

but

and into the balance of the whole economy. Prices cannot

Rudolf Steiner describes price as

be considered in isolation from

the cardinal question of economic

one another because they are

life (as does modern economics)

reciprocally related on a global

and gives the image of mercury

level. Long ago Rudolf Steiner

in a thermometer corresponding

described it by saying that „local

to price that is an indicator of

tram fares are affected by events

temperature, not a cause. The idea

in America“.

of true pricing is a much wider

59

conception than it first appears.

of the 1948 edition of The Social

To work associatively, individuals

Future lectures,

need

through

with other numerous expositions

which prices can be ‘perceived’.

given by Rudolf Steiner on this

As an organ of perception, double

subject of capital accumulation,

entry accounting has the potential

transfer

to educate us to our economic

without government interference,

circumstances in a precise common

it can be said that the ‘company

language. The balance sheet makes

principle’ means a maintenance

the ‘life of rights between us’

of an artificial, lifeless separation

visible to all that can understand,

of finance-capital from the human

read and write, in this language.

being in his true social relationships,

an

instrument

and

„In accordance

administration,

whereas the ‘associative principle’ Associative Principle

in the economic sphere starts from

The rationale for our competitive

the human being with all their

economy comes from an idea of

capacities and abilities, working

Adam Smith. Where two people

by means of capital placed at

meet, they will collude to make

their disposal for really productive

an economic gain, so if they are

purposes for the common benefit

made to compete instead it will

of all.“ Gift money as an economic

negate this possibility. On the other

category, is a corollary to true

hand, it is possible to meet on the

pricing that can act as counter

street in order to cooperate for

balance to the ‘damming of capital

the benefit of the whole without

into land’.

collusion – cooperation without collusion.

Does the method of capitalization

From Bernard Behrens elaboration

allow the share company to be

60

an expression and instrument of

day before the conference, where

the associative principle rather

hundreds of shareholders and

than the company principle? The

friends gathered sowing seeds for

share company that Rudolf Steiner

the future over a very large tilled

headed was called Der Kommende

field. Strengths in both inner and

Tag, a collection of economic

outer aspects of maintaining a

activities, commercial and cultural,

growing enterprise could be felt

where the idea seems to have been

over the entire premises through a

to devote the profits of the first

consistent experience of its elegant

to benefit the later, the cultural

simplicity, beauty and the attention

activities.

to

detail.

After

sharing

food

together, the new 21 unit ‘green’ The Right-On Corporation is a

apartment

modern attempt to continue this

center for seniors and young

effort to transform the share

families were dedicated, followed

company into a form that aids the

by a tour of the well thought out

initiative and intuition of the human

space.

complex/wellness

being towards a balanced and healthy social life. (www.cfae.biz).

Daniel Osmer Sebastopol, California, USA

Thank you for this special event.

And thank you for the good will, warmth and hospitality of the members of the branch.

daniel@calsolarfunding.com Daniel is a Real Estate Professional in Sebastopol, California and a foundingparticipant of the Economics Conference as it was inaugurated at the Goetheanum in 2002 (daniel@sciencebuzzcafe.org).

L’AUBIER

celebrated

its

30th

Anniversary (www.aubier.ch) the

61

Transformation of Childhood Forces „O wondrous strength of the

full of wisdom and of nature. These

angels, servant of God, counselor

are strong forces, of which traces

of the human being, bringer of

remain throughout the whole of

miracles…“ – Alanus ab Insulis, in

childhood – traces that speak of

his Michael sermon (from Alanus

the spiritual home of the human

ab Insulis, by Wolf-Ulrich Klünker,

being and that allow us to divine

Hardenberg Publications, p. 51)

his developmental potential.

When one experiences a newborn

Who doesn’t know the perpetual

child, sometimes one cannot help

liveliness of a child, who asks

but have the impression: this is

something

heaven on earth! It is a feeling

everyone, and does entirely sensible

of boundless, inviolable human

but not always useful things?

dignity. One is filled with respect for

The ‘philistine’ daily life of adults

the wonder of human becoming. It

seems as though disturbed by this

is so small and so enormous at the

energy that demands presence

same time….

of mind. The more conscious

In the course of the first years of

the human being becomes, the

human „becoming“, the three

more he falls out of these hidden

great primordial capacities of the

forces that are at work, and falls

human being take shape: walking,

back onto himself, to what he has

speaking, thinking. Just like that,

become. Certain norms, habitual

one could say, the child is formed

ways of living, and experiences give

and learns, learns, learns.

him support and orientation. Self-

The forces at work in the child are

determination is the inner tenor.

62

of

life,

challenges

Is there a connection with these

being are they found?

childhood

there

This is one direction for the themes

moments in which the human

that we will take up within the

being works at shaping himself,

framework

where forces connecting heaven

Spiritual Science conference on

and earth come into movement,

Family Culture.

and where his own being is

Gioia Falk, Anneka Lohn, Paul

touched and seems to touch?

Mackay,

These certainly exist! Each person

Nell, Clara Steinemann and Martin

can only say for himself when,

SchlĂźter will prepare this, and see it

how and by what means this takes

through together with all who are

place.

interested. The 17th Class lesson will

And yet one can point to where this

be central.

can be practiced and experienced.

Anneka Lohn Dorneckstrasse 11 CH-4143 Dornach annekalohn@sunrise.ch

forces?

Are

Schooling one’s own soul capacities can sensitize one to a consciousness that encompasses more than what

of

the

Franziska

School

of

Schmidt-von

Translation from German by Helen Lubin

is in the immediate, concrete environment.

The

question

of

relationship to the spiritual world becomes relevant. Can these forces be taken hold of more precisely?

By what means does this kind of relationship to the spiritual world come about? How do these forces transform themselves as one grows older, and where in the human 63

Nicanor Perlas Running for President of the Philippines!

And Help Bring Social Threefolding Further into the World Enclosed we would like to inform you about an initiative to support Nicanor Perlas, campaign for President of the Philippines.

(Alternative Nobel Prize) for his

Paul Mackay and Ulrich Rösch

Award, and, most recently, the

advocacy work on globalisation and sustainable development, as well as the UN Environmental Program’s Global 500 Award, The Outstanding Filipino (TOFIL) Manuel L. Quezon Award for

After filing a 48-page appeal

Exemplary Governance.

against the decision of Comelec

On January 14, Comelec overturned

(the

their initial decision, allowing Perlas

government-run

commission)

which

electoral sought

to

to run as a presidential candidate.

disqualify him from running for

Ninety

other

candidates

were

president of the Philippines on the

disqualified. Perlas will now be one

grounds that he was a “nuisance

of only ten presidential candidates

candidate,” Nicanor Perlas is

for the May 10 elections.

now running again.

A global petition calling for him Nicanor Perlas has been working

to be allowed to run was signed

in the world out of Rudolf Steiner’s

by over 1,200 people from 44

ideas on Social Threefolding for

different countries in the three

many years. He has been a recipient

days before the appeal was filed.

of the Right Livelihood Award

It has now been signed by over

64

2,000 people (including David

1,300 people each donated $100US

Suzuki), some of whom are

in this time, they will reach the

comparing

Nelson

amount required. Your $100 would

Mandela, Al Gore and Vaclav

be greatly appreciated, but of

Havel. The petition was included

course, if you would like to donate

in the appeal. It can be viewed at:

more or donate less, that would

www.thepetitionsite.com/1/let-

also be welcomed. To donate to the

nick-run

campaign, and to help bring Rudolf

The French Green party and

Steiner’s ideas on Social Threefolding

the Australian Green Party also

further on the national level, go

showed strong support for Perlas

to: www.nicanor-perlas.com

Perlas

to

by writing letters directly to the Comelec commissioners.

To donate to the making of a

International donations to the

documentary on Nicanor Perlas to

presidential campaign of Nicanor

be used as part of the campaign, go

Perlas

to: perlasdocumentary.chipin.com/

can

be

made

before

February 8. After that time, all

nicanor-perlas-documentary

donations must come from inside

To keep updated on the presidential

the Philippines. His team needs

campaign, visit A People for Perlas:

$130,000US before February 8

apeopleforperlas.ning.com

in order to continue successfully carrying out the campaign.

In order to raise this money, instead of one or two large-scale contributions, many people can contribute smaller amounts. If

Please forward this information to anyone you think would be interested in contributing to this movement!

Warmest wishes, Caitlin Balmer Katie Dobb Hanna Koskinen John Stubley

65

Impressum Publisher and copyright: School for Spiritual Science at the Goetheanum: Section for Social Sciences Postfach CH-4143 Dornach sektion.sozialwissenschaften@goetheanum.ch hanna.koskinen@goetheanum.ch Editors: Ulrich Rรถsch, Hanna Koskinen Layout and design: Kohlhase Publishing and Consulting www.kohlhase-consulting.com Copyright: The content of this newsletter is under copyright. The articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Section for Social Sciences. www.goetheanum.org

66

Calendar of Events 2010 January 22-23

Transformation of the Forces of Childhood: Meeting of the School of Spiritual Science: On Family Culture; 17th Class Lesson

March 5-7

Polarities – Together: Active Rights in the Battle for the Center Public conference on rights sphere

March 26

Working Session on Aging

April 16-17

Colloquium on Conflict Research Meeting to be held in Germany

April 23-24

Money – Regionally and Globally, from Above and from Below Public conference

June 18-19

Citizens’ Self-Organization – the Art of Self-Governance

September 2-5

Section Conference in Gdynia (Danzig), Poland

September 9-10

Freedom in Business 3rd Economics Forum

September 16-19

Annual Economics Meeting in l’Aubier, near Neuchatel

September 26-27

Aspects of the Economics Course from the Perspective of Current Phenomena and Issues: colloquium

October 15

Working Session on Aging

October 29-30

Colloquium on Conflict Research

November 5-7

Conference on Sustainable Development

November 26-28

The Art of Social Initiative

www.goetheanum.org

67

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