Artist : Zan Newstrom
Something New Under the Sun
Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social Idea
The threefold social idea discerns a set of patterns and activities to be found in human society, pointed out systematically for the first time by Rudolf Steiner. This is a summary for a longer series of articles - future chapters will offer historical context on the threefold idea, the robust threefolding movement in Germany in 1919, and the future potential of an idea truly "something new under the sun".
The Three Spheres of Life
To Rudolf Steiner's observation, the three archetypal spheres of human social activity are economic life, rights or political life and activities for which, taken together, he used the term spiritual cultural life.
Rights life is necessary in society because on a spectrum ranging from innocent and careless mistakes to the most devious malice, human beings cause each other injury, harm and loss. Social health in this realm of life requires that all citizens have a voice and part in
The core need of rights life are thus equality for all citizens in matters of protections, freedom and safety ; and active participation in this sphere of life, to make these things realities.
Economic life is necessary in society because all human beings have certain physical needs of life - needs for food, shelter, clothing and more, in service of physical existence. The key components of modern economic life are the production of needed materials and goods, their distribution, their consumption by all members of society, and related services and activities.
The physical needs of our lives are in fact many, the activities needed to fulfill them complex. A first core need of economic activity in the changing circumstances of life, therefore, is for skillful coordination of efforts. Seen this way, the health of economic life will not be best served by competition or an urge for profits, as still widely believed ; but by communication, cooperation and collaboration - the expertise of many, united to meet mutual needs in goodwill - a spirit characterized by Rudolf Steiner as one of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Spiritual-cultural life. Every human being has some unique insight or ability to contribute : some gift or capacity to think, do, create or motivate others that in fact only he or she has - that society needs, and without which it would be in some way poorer. Spiritual cultural life is necessary in society because no one can do all these things for him or herself - and because everyone needs the gifts, abilities and insights of others.
Spiritual cultural life includes the great range of gifts and abilities of individual persons - most recognizably, the domains of education, medicine, the arts and religion, but more generally, the knowledge, skills and practice of every profession. Spiritual cultural life also includes purely physical gifts of strength, skill and dexterity, and such basic and humble skills as cooking, raising children and communicating well with others. All gifts and abilities that arise in an individual, and when exercised contribute in some way to society, belong to this realm of life.
The first - and constant - needs of spiritual cultural life are that each person have freedom to develop his or her own gifts, talents and abilities ; to share and express them with others ; and have access to the insights and services of others. The limits of freedom in spiritual cultural life are of course that it not cause harm, injury or loss to others, as might be determined from the side of rights life.
Problems of Trespass and Boundaries
Rights, economic and spiritual cultural life thus each have their specific contribution to make, and their unique and specific needs. These spheres, Steiner observed, can and must work together - but to do so optimally, also require a certain separation, and at times even protections from each other. The example of this we know best today is "separation of church and state", enshrined in law in many countries. These laws arose directly and organically from historical experience - often after centuries of social discord, and even bloody warfare. Other boundaries between the three spheres, however, are not yet clearly set or regulated. Some examples :
These are just a few examples of unhealthy boundaries among the three realms of society. That these conflicts and trespasses may have arisen only gradually, in the course even of centuries, or are so deeply ingrained in our habits that we hardly notice them anymore, subtracts nothing from the harm they cause ; nor, should they persist in our increasingly tense and complex world, from their potentially devastating future effects.
Threefold Social IDEA and Threefold Social ORDER
Can the principles of the threefold social idea work in a corrective, redemptive way in our world today ? Attempted at the worst - but most crucial - of moments after the first World War, a brave effort was in fact made to bring "threefolding" into public life in all three social spheres. The historical context of the threefold idea, the events and eventual failure of the threefolding movement of 1919 and possible future paths of transition from a threefold social idea to a healthy threefold social order, will be explored in the next articles.
Next in Series : Something New Under the Sun II : Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Socials Idea
Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social Idea
The threefold social idea discerns a set of patterns and activities to be found in human society, pointed out systematically for the first time by Rudolf Steiner. This is a summary for a longer series of articles - future chapters will offer historical context on the threefold idea, the robust threefolding movement in Germany in 1919, and the future potential of an idea truly "something new under the sun".
The Three Spheres of Life
To Rudolf Steiner's observation, the three archetypal spheres of human social activity are economic life, rights or political life and activities for which, taken together, he used the term spiritual cultural life.
Rights life is necessary in society because on a spectrum ranging from innocent and careless mistakes to the most devious malice, human beings cause each other injury, harm and loss. Social health in this realm of life requires that all citizens have a voice and part in
- Identifying various needs they have among them for safety and human dignity.
- Identifying basic freedoms they need in order to live, develop and unfold their abilities.
- Creating basic rules within which people must live, to protect safety and freedoms ; and to enable administration of justice where needed.
The core need of rights life are thus equality for all citizens in matters of protections, freedom and safety ; and active participation in this sphere of life, to make these things realities.
Economic life is necessary in society because all human beings have certain physical needs of life - needs for food, shelter, clothing and more, in service of physical existence. The key components of modern economic life are the production of needed materials and goods, their distribution, their consumption by all members of society, and related services and activities.
The physical needs of our lives are in fact many, the activities needed to fulfill them complex. A first core need of economic activity in the changing circumstances of life, therefore, is for skillful coordination of efforts. Seen this way, the health of economic life will not be best served by competition or an urge for profits, as still widely believed ; but by communication, cooperation and collaboration - the expertise of many, united to meet mutual needs in goodwill - a spirit characterized by Rudolf Steiner as one of brotherhood and sisterhood.
Spiritual-cultural life. Every human being has some unique insight or ability to contribute : some gift or capacity to think, do, create or motivate others that in fact only he or she has - that society needs, and without which it would be in some way poorer. Spiritual cultural life is necessary in society because no one can do all these things for him or herself - and because everyone needs the gifts, abilities and insights of others.
Spiritual cultural life includes the great range of gifts and abilities of individual persons - most recognizably, the domains of education, medicine, the arts and religion, but more generally, the knowledge, skills and practice of every profession. Spiritual cultural life also includes purely physical gifts of strength, skill and dexterity, and such basic and humble skills as cooking, raising children and communicating well with others. All gifts and abilities that arise in an individual, and when exercised contribute in some way to society, belong to this realm of life.
The first - and constant - needs of spiritual cultural life are that each person have freedom to develop his or her own gifts, talents and abilities ; to share and express them with others ; and have access to the insights and services of others. The limits of freedom in spiritual cultural life are of course that it not cause harm, injury or loss to others, as might be determined from the side of rights life.
Problems of Trespass and Boundaries
Rights, economic and spiritual cultural life thus each have their specific contribution to make, and their unique and specific needs. These spheres, Steiner observed, can and must work together - but to do so optimally, also require a certain separation, and at times even protections from each other. The example of this we know best today is "separation of church and state", enshrined in law in many countries. These laws arose directly and organically from historical experience - often after centuries of social discord, and even bloody warfare. Other boundaries between the three spheres, however, are not yet clearly set or regulated. Some examples :
- Corrupting influences of economic interests (e.g. corporations) on the policies of government.
- Corrupting and distorting influences of economic interests on spiritual cultural work (e.g. educational, medical, scientific), for the sake of their own ends or gain.
- Use or coercion of economic entities by government to enforce its wishes or policies on citizens, e.g. by pressuring them to restrict citizens' speech, movement, livelihood or access to needed goods and services.
- Manipulation of government policies by partisan spiritual cultural interests to control or coerce perceived rival factions or schools of thought. ("church rivalries" transposed to the realms of science, medicine, education etc).
These are just a few examples of unhealthy boundaries among the three realms of society. That these conflicts and trespasses may have arisen only gradually, in the course even of centuries, or are so deeply ingrained in our habits that we hardly notice them anymore, subtracts nothing from the harm they cause ; nor, should they persist in our increasingly tense and complex world, from their potentially devastating future effects.
Threefold Social IDEA and Threefold Social ORDER
Can the principles of the threefold social idea work in a corrective, redemptive way in our world today ? Attempted at the worst - but most crucial - of moments after the first World War, a brave effort was in fact made to bring "threefolding" into public life in all three social spheres. The historical context of the threefold idea, the events and eventual failure of the threefolding movement of 1919 and possible future paths of transition from a threefold social idea to a healthy threefold social order, will be explored in the next articles.
Next in Series : Something New Under the Sun II : Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Socials Idea
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