By Rudolf Steiner

Translated by Olin D. Wannamaker
Bn/GA 186

In these lectures, given just days after the ending of World War I, Steiner describes the new developments in mechanics, politics, and economy as well as new capacities and methods in the West and the East. He reveals their fruitful potentialities but also the dangers of their abuse. He also discusses social and antisocial instincts, specters of the Old Testament in the nationalism of the present, and the innate capacities of various nations.

These lectures, originally published in English with the title, In the Changed Conditions of the Times (from the lecture series entitled, Fundamental Social Requirements of Our Time), were given in Dornach, Switzerland, November–December, 1918. They were translated from the German by Olin D. Wannamaker and are included in Die soziale Grundforderung unserer Zeit (Vol. 186 in the Bibliographic Survey, 1961). They are presented here with the kind permission of the Rudolf Steiner Nachlassverwaltung. Dornach, Switzerland.