New Articles on the Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social Idea
Painting : Zan Newstrom
The Fullness of Life
What are the conditions that create health in human social life - that give it the potential to truly thrive ? Concepts such as love, respect, dignity come to mind ; relationship ; cooperation ; an element of freedom, which permits people to unfold themselves ; yet also elements of rules and boundaries, for protection of their safety and well being.
The threefold social idea is a body of observations on human social life, first outlined by Rudolf Steiner in 1918. It describes three realms of society, namely those of protections, rights and the law ("rights life"); economic life ; and the realms of art, education, science, religion etc, designated together "spiritual-cultural life". It also explores characteristic differences and conflicts that arise among these three areas - as well as possibilities for their healthy interaction.
Rudolf Steiner's writings on the threefold idea are among his most strenuous to grasp, and dense with historical reference ; but also, once penetrated, some of the most satisfying, calling forth a robust and positive image of society - of the fullness of human life. This image is not just a source of hope and goodwill, but potentially, a foundation for practical work. Not least, the threefold idea can serve as a kind of diagnostic tool for things that go wrong or badly in society - helping to identify both the "why" of problems that arise, and possible ways to address them.
The threefold social idea was first introduced at the worst of times, and under the worst conditions imaginable : immediately after the carnage of World War I, and in the decade of crushing inflation that followed. First and subsequent efforts to "implement" a threefold structure in geographic areas, schools and businesses, have met with very mixed success. A scholarly yet also stirring presentation of the first such attempt, led by Steiner himself, can be found here, and in an abbreviated version here. Like other new and important ideas, it's taking time to become a reality. But on the other hand, 100 years is not such a long time.
This article series takes its starting point in statements Rudolf Steiner made repeatedly in discussing the threefold social idea : namely, that to take real root in society, the threefold idea first needs to be rightly understood by enough people - at which point they'll simply begin to implement it in their own actions and decisions in everyday life, beginning with those smallest and closest at hand.
The effort here is to create overview articles, and share previous overview efforts by others ; and to show how the threefold nature of society lives - and/or is distorted - in our own world today. The intention is to stimulate active and deeper study of Steiner's own work, and the impulse to work toward threefoldness with others - again, starting in the smallest and most immediate ways. The series is intended as a portal, a doorway to Rudolf Steiner's threefold social idea for any thinking person of goodwill. Examples and elaborations here arise from my own 40 plus years study and consideration of Steiner's social idea, and my own experience of life. Your comments are welcome !
Article by : Jeff Smith RN (Retired)
Sequence of Articles
1) The Fullness of Life
2) Introducing Threefold
3) The Threefold Social Idea
4) Rights Life Today : An Introduction
5) Rights Life Today
6) False Paths in Rights Life : Political Parties
7) False Paths in Rights Life : Problems of MINDSET
8) Leadership in the Realm of Rights Life
(9) Rethinking Philanthropy
10) Rethinking Philanthropy II : Ways, Means and Measures
11) Rethinking Philanthropy III : An IdeaThat Becomes an Ideal
12) Planting the Seeds of Threefolding
13) The Futility of Hatred
14) The Mind of the Gardener
15) Additional Resources on Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social Idea
Next in series : Introducing Threefold
The threefold social idea is a body of observations on human social life, first outlined by Rudolf Steiner in 1918. It describes three realms of society, namely those of protections, rights and the law ("rights life"); economic life ; and the realms of art, education, science, religion etc, designated together "spiritual-cultural life". It also explores characteristic differences and conflicts that arise among these three areas - as well as possibilities for their healthy interaction.
Rudolf Steiner's writings on the threefold idea are among his most strenuous to grasp, and dense with historical reference ; but also, once penetrated, some of the most satisfying, calling forth a robust and positive image of society - of the fullness of human life. This image is not just a source of hope and goodwill, but potentially, a foundation for practical work. Not least, the threefold idea can serve as a kind of diagnostic tool for things that go wrong or badly in society - helping to identify both the "why" of problems that arise, and possible ways to address them.
The threefold social idea was first introduced at the worst of times, and under the worst conditions imaginable : immediately after the carnage of World War I, and in the decade of crushing inflation that followed. First and subsequent efforts to "implement" a threefold structure in geographic areas, schools and businesses, have met with very mixed success. A scholarly yet also stirring presentation of the first such attempt, led by Steiner himself, can be found here, and in an abbreviated version here. Like other new and important ideas, it's taking time to become a reality. But on the other hand, 100 years is not such a long time.
This article series takes its starting point in statements Rudolf Steiner made repeatedly in discussing the threefold social idea : namely, that to take real root in society, the threefold idea first needs to be rightly understood by enough people - at which point they'll simply begin to implement it in their own actions and decisions in everyday life, beginning with those smallest and closest at hand.
The effort here is to create overview articles, and share previous overview efforts by others ; and to show how the threefold nature of society lives - and/or is distorted - in our own world today. The intention is to stimulate active and deeper study of Steiner's own work, and the impulse to work toward threefoldness with others - again, starting in the smallest and most immediate ways. The series is intended as a portal, a doorway to Rudolf Steiner's threefold social idea for any thinking person of goodwill. Examples and elaborations here arise from my own 40 plus years study and consideration of Steiner's social idea, and my own experience of life. Your comments are welcome !
Article by : Jeff Smith RN (Retired)
Sequence of Articles
1) The Fullness of Life
2) Introducing Threefold
3) The Threefold Social Idea
4) Rights Life Today : An Introduction
5) Rights Life Today
6) False Paths in Rights Life : Political Parties
7) False Paths in Rights Life : Problems of MINDSET
8) Leadership in the Realm of Rights Life
(9) Rethinking Philanthropy
10) Rethinking Philanthropy II : Ways, Means and Measures
11) Rethinking Philanthropy III : An IdeaThat Becomes an Ideal
12) Planting the Seeds of Threefolding
13) The Futility of Hatred
14) The Mind of the Gardener
15) Additional Resources on Rudolf Steiner's Threefold Social Idea
Next in series : Introducing Threefold
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