The Renewal of the Social Organism

Culture, Politics and Economics

These three constitute the activities of human society. Steiner argues that we must understand this fact as well as the need of these three activities for independence or autonomy from one another if society is to be healthy. In his foreword Joseph Weizenbaum observes that the framers of the US constitution understood this principle, at least in part, when they developed the constitutional doctrine of separation of Church and State, a division between culture and politics. But the principle has not yet been applied to education and other areas of culture. An understanding of these ideas offers a refreshing insight into the nature of modern society as wet! as guidance for solving today's pressing social problems.

During the last two decades of this nineteenth century the Austrian-born Rudolf Steiner (1861–1925) became a respected and well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, particularly known for his work on Goethe's scientific writings. After the turn of the century he began to develop his earlier philosophical principles into an approach to methodical research of psychological and spiritual phenomena. His multi-faceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, science, education (Waldorf schools), special education, philosophy, religion, economics, agriculture (Bio-Dynamic method), architecture, drama, the new art of eurythmy. and other fields. In i924 he founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world.

ISBN 0-880IO-I26 1 cloth 0-88010-125-3 paper