PREFACE
written in 1918 as an
introduction to these lectures given in 1910.
In
these lectures, which were given in Christiania (Oslo) in June 1910,
I ventured to give a sketch of the psychology of the development of
peoples. The lectures are based upon the teachings of Anthroposophy
which can be found in my books
Theosophy,
Occult Science — an Outline,
Riddles of Man,
Riddles of the Soul,
[
Riddles of Man
is not yet (1970) published in English.
(yes it is, click the link — e.Ed)
A translation of a section of
Riddles of the Soul
is published with the main title of
The Case for Anthroposophy,
with an Introduction by Owen Barfield.]
etc. I was able to build upon
this foundation because my hearers were familiar with the scientific
views which are presented in my publications. That is the external
reason for the choice of my point of view; there is however a further
reason, an inner reason. The orthodox study of anthropology,
ethnology, or even history cannot provide an adequate
framework for a true psychology of the various folk characters.
Neither the information provided by orthodox science, nor the study
of anatomy and physiology suffice for an understanding of the psychic
life of man. If we wish to understand the inner life of an individual
we must study the soul as well as the body, and if we desire to gain
real insight into national characteristics we must explore the
psychic and spiritual element underlying them. This psychic and
spiritual element, however, reflects not merely the activity of
individual human souls working in concert, but has its origin in a
higher order. The higher spiritual element is a province in which
modern science is a total stranger. Before the bar of science it is
paradoxical to speak of Folk Souls as real entities in the sense that
we speak of the reality of thinking, feeling and willing in
individual human beings; and it is equally paradoxical to relate the
evolution of peoples on Earth to the forces of the heavenly bodies in
space. But the matter ceases to be paradoxical if we recall that one
does not look for the forces which determine the north-south
direction of a magnetic needle in the needle itself. One attributes
the deflection of the needle to the effect of the Earth's
magnetic field but looks to the Cosmos for the causes of this
deflection. Shall we not therefore have to seek the reasons for the
development of folk characters, folk migrations, etc. in the Cosmos
outside the peoples themselves? Apart from the anthroposophical view
which considers higher spiritual Beings to be a reality, a totally
new element is introduced into these lectures which sees a higher
spiritual reality behind the evolution of peoples and seeks the
forces which direct this evolution in this spiritual reality. We then
investigate the facts which are manifested in the life of the peoples
and we find that these facts become intelligible on this basis. The
conditions in the life of the various peoples, as well as their
mutual relationships, can thus be clearly understood, whereas without
this basis there can be no true understanding of this
approach. Either one must seek a basis for the psychology of peoples
in a spiritual reality or one must abandon such a psychology in toto.
I
have not hesitated to use the traditional names of the early
centuries of Christianity to describe the higher spiritual Beings. An
Oriental would choose other names. Nevertheless, although the use of
this terminology may be regarded as rather unscientific today, there
seems to be no reason to fight shy of it. In the first place, we
thereby acknowledge the essentially Christian character of our
Western civilization, and secondly, if entirely new names were
chosen, or if an oriental terminology were adopted whose real meaning
could only be fully comprehended by one who is spiritually at home in
that civilization, we should be in danger of misapprehension. It
seems to me that whoever wishes to investigate these spiritual
relationships, assuming he does not reject our whole approach, will
not object to names such as Angels, Archangels, Thrones, etc. any
more than physical science objects to terms such as positive and
negative electricity, magnetism, polarized light, etc.
Whoever
relates the content of my earlier lectures to the painful trials of
mankind at the present time will find that what I then said throws a
flood of light upon what is taking place now. (February 1918.) Were I
to give these lectures now you could well imagine that in the light
of the present world-situation these earlier investigations were a
necessity. Thus for example on page 23 of the first lecture you will
find the following passage: “ ... we have every reason,
especially at the present time, to speak quite impartially about the
mission of the individual Folk Souls. Just as it was justifiable to
maintain complete silence about their mission hitherto, so it is in
order today to begin to speak of this mission. This is particularly
important because the destiny of mankind in the near future will
bring men together in far greater measure than has hitherto been the
case in order to fulfil a mission common to all mankind. But the
members of the individual peoples will only be able to offer their
proper, free and positive contributions if they have, above all, an
understanding of their ethnic origin, an understanding for what we
might call ‘the self-knowledge of the folk’. ” No
doubt the time has now come when the fate of humanity itself
demonstrates the truth of this view.
Perhaps
it is precisely the theme of the “Folk Souls” which shows
how spiritual investigation which penetrates into the super-sensible
reality of existence provides at the same time a practical view of
life which also throws light upon the most diverse problems of life.
This
is not possible for a view of life which only uses such concepts as
are valid in the sphere of natural science in order to describe the
nature and development of peoples. This mechanistic-physical science
has been highly successful in exploiting the mechanical, physical and
chemical resources for the benefit of civilization; but in order to
promote the spiritual life of mankind we need a science which is
spiritually orientated. Such a science is the first demand of our
age.
Berlin, 8th February, 1918
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Rudolf Steiner
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