Understanding Society Through Spiritual-Scientific Knowledge: Social Threefolding, Christ, Lucifer, and Ahriman (Cw 191) Volume 191 - Couverture souple

Steiner, Rudolf

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 1855845423 ISBN 13 : 9781855845428

Editeur : Rudolf Steiner Press, 2017

Synopsis

15 lectures, Dornach, October 3 - November 13, 1919 (CW 191)

"The spirit of cold divisiveness and isolationism, of unsympathetic feeling and enmity, of action either immobilized or excessively violent, is clearly incarnating amongst us. But Steiner offers us remedies, and in an insight of real genius, instead of dogmatically castigating the coldness of science or of self-referential voluptuousness of our subjective feelings, he proposes a beautiful reversal: to regard ourselves and our subjectivities with scientific objectivity, and to observe the outer world and its phenomena with all the subjective warmth of our keenest interest. For me, this has all the persuasive depth, simplicity, and difficulty of a true way forward." -- Matthew Barton (from his introduction)

In the uncertainty following World War I, Rudolf Steiner perceived a unique opportunity to establish a healthy social and political constitution. He began lecturing throughout post-war Germany, often to large audiences, about his social ideas. Here, speaking to a more intimate grouping at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland, Steiner seeks to deepen the themes of social threefolding, showing specifically how new social thinking is integral to Anthroposophy.

Steiner speaks about the superficiality of a materialistic view of history, originating with the economic shift among the population at the time of the Reformation. During the Egypto-Chaldean era, initiates ruled from spiritual impulses. Later, in the Greco-Roman period, priests held power over their congregations. Today, homo economicus (the economic human) has become the dominant idea as capitalists and bankers assume control. However, healing social relationships can be done only through a different mode of thinking--the life of spirit must be separated not only from politics but also from economics. True social understanding allows our comprehension of karma and appreciation of each individual's personal destiny. In the meantime, Steiner tells us, we should work toward global consciousness, as true social ideas are based on people's feeling that they are citizens of the world.

In an important corollary, in these lectures Steiner investigates the incarnations of three significant spiritual beings in human evolution--Lucifer, Christ, and Ahriman. Lucifer incarnated during the third pre-Christian millennium; Christ incarnated at the dawn of a new age; today, an incarnation of Ahriman in the West is immanent. Ahriman is preparing this incarnation by insidiously promoting certain ideas--in particular, that economic security is sufficient for healthy public life. Fresh wisdom must be achieved through free human will, says Steiner; otherwise, we will succumb to Ahriman.

This volume is a translation from German of Soziales Verstandnis aus geisteswissenschaftlichen Erkentnis Die Geistige Hintergründe der Sozialen Frage - Band III (GA 191).

A propos du livre

À propos des auteurs

Rudolf Steiner (b. Rudolf Joseph Lorenz Steiner, 1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. Steiner termed his spiritual philosophy anthroposophy, meaning "wisdom of the human being." As an exceptionally developed seer, he based his work on direct knowledge and perception of spiritual dimensions. He initiated a modern, universal "spiritual science" that is accessible to anyone willing to exercise clear and unbiased thinking. From his spiritual investigations, Steiner provided suggestions for the renewal of numerous activities, including education (general and for special needs), agriculture, medicine, economics, architecture, science, philosophy, Christianity, and the arts. There are currently thousands of schools, clinics, farms, and initiatives in other fields that involve practical work based on the principles Steiner developed. His many published works feature his research into the spiritual nature of human beings, the evolution of the world and humanity, and methods for personal development. He wrote some thirty books and delivered more than six thousand lectures throughout much of Europe. In 1924, Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches around the world.

Matthew Barton is a translator, editor, teacher, and poet, and taught kindergarten for many years at the Bristol Waldorf School. His first collection of poems was Learning To Row (1999). He has won numerous prizes for his work, including an Arts Council Writer's Award and a Hawthornden Fellowship.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Rudolf Steiner Press
• Date d'édition: 2017
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 1855845423
• ISBN 13: 9781855845428
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 280
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible