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Toward a Threefold Society

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Sketch of Rudolf Steiner lecturing at the East-West Conference in Vienna.






Toward a Threefold Society

On-line since: 1st May, 2022


Toward a Threefold Society

Rudolf Steiner e.Lib Document

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In the social ferment of postwar Europe in 1919, Steiner presented his ideas about reforming the basis of society in three fundamental, autonomous spheres: economic, political/rights, and cultural. For a short time he worked to bring his ideas into practical application but it soon became impossible to bring about a "threefold social order" and he withdrew from the outer work in this area. His ideas have been worked with over the decades since that time and have proved to be just as valid today as they were then. This volume is a presentation of Steiner's central ideas on the threefold nature of the social organism.

By Rudolf Steiner

Translated by Frank Thomas Smith
GA 23

This book was written in 1919, just after the First World War, and suggests solutions to the social, political and economic problems of those times. At the end of the book, Steiner writes: "... either people will accommodate their thinking to the requirements of reality, or they will have learned nothing from the calamity and will cause innumerable new ones to occur in the future." History since then has proven these words to be prophetic. The "social question" has not been resolved, nor have steps been taken to initiate the healing process. We all too often look to the political state for the solutions to all social problems, be they of an economic, cultural or political nature. Steiner's concept of a tripartite, or threefold society in which the economic, cultural and political spheres would enjoy relative autonomy within the social organism has not yet been tried. This book contains his basic ideas for the restructuring of society.

Frank Thonas Smith has rejuvinated his earlier translation of Basic Issues of the Social Question. We present it here with his kind permission, and the permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung, in Dornach, Switzerland. Bn 23, GA 23, CW 23.

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CONTENTS

 Cover Sheet  
Contents  
Opening Quote  
Preface to the Fourth German Edition — 1920  
Preliminary Remarks  
 
Chapter One: The True Nature of the Social Question  
Chapter Two: Finding Real Solutions to the Social Problems of the Times  
Chapter Three: Capitalism and Social Ideas  
Chapter Four: International Relations Between Social Organisms  
 
Appendix  
About the Author  
About the Translator  
On-line Activities  





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