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The Rudolf Steiner Archive

a project of Steiner Online Library, a public charity

The Renewal of the Social Organism
GA 24

Culture, politics, economics — these are the three core activities of society. Social health depends on the harmonious interworking of these three activities which, Steiner says, is possible only if they are sufficiently autonomous so each can find its own essential character. In his foreword, Joseph Weizenbaum observes that the framers of the U.S. Constitution understood this, at least in part, when they developed the constitutional doctrine of separation of church and state.

These essays cover a range of issues with special attention to money, the division of labor, human motivation, and education. They offer refreshing insights into the nature of modern society as well as guidance for solving today's pressing social problems.

An Introduction to Waldorf Education

This essay was written during 1919. In the Collected edition of Rudolf Steiner's works, the volume containing the German texts is entitled, Aufsatze Uber die Dreigleiderung der sozialen organismus und zur Zeitlage 1915-1921 (Vol. 24 in the Bibliographic Survey, 1961). It was translated from the German by E. Bowen-Wedgewood; the translation was revised by Frederick Amrine.


Spiritual Life, Civil Rights, Industrial Economy

This essay appeared originally in the third issue of The Social Future (organ of the Swiss League for the Threefold Order). The first item in the contents of the Hibbert Journal for July, 1921, was the English translation, which is here reprinted. In that form it is probable that a large number of English readers for the first time encountered the proposals by which alone, in Dr. Rudolf Steiner's judgment, the civilized countries of the world can grapple hopefully with the political, economic, and social problems, the solution of which seems at present beyond the power of every one of them alike.

Translations of Dr. Steiner's book on the Threefold Social Order have appeared in every significant European language, and it has won for itself a circulation (upwards of 100,000) attained only at rare intervals by works of this character. An excellent English version, entitled The Threefold Commonwealth: the True Shape of the Social Question, has been put upon the market by the Anthroposophic Press.

This excerpt taken from: “Understanding the Human Being”, selected writings of Rudolf Steiner, Edited by Richard Seddon, Rudolf Steiner Press, Bristol, 1993.


The Renewal of the Social Organism (1985)

The articles presented in this volume were written during 1919 and 1920. In the Collected Edition of Rudolf Steiner's works, the volume containing the German texts is entitled, Aufsätze Über die Dreigliederung des sozialen organismus und zur Zeitlage 1915–1921 (Vol. 24 in the Bibliographic Survey, 1961.). They were translated from the German by E. Bowen-Wedgewood and Ruth Mariott; the translation was revised by Frederick Amrine. The publication of the printed volume was made possible by a grant from the Dietrich V. Asten Memorial Fund.


Capital and Credit

This essay first appeared in The Threefold Commonwealth, London, Volume 1, 1921, and then in Anthroposophical Quarterly, 1927, Volume 2, Number 3, Michaelmas. The translator is unknown.

Thoughts during the Time of War

In the collected edition of Rudolf Steiner's works in German, the volume containing the German text is entitled, Gedanken während der Zeit des Krieges. Für Deutsche und diejenigen, die nicht glauben, sie hassen zu müssen. (Vol. 19 in the Bibliographic Survey). GA019 no longer exists. It is now in GA 24, The Renewal of the Social Organism, (essays on the threefold social organism in the years of 1915–1921).

The translator of this book is Daniel Hafner. Thanks to him for making this volume available to the world.


Aufsätze uber die Dreigliederung des sozialen Organismus

Den Kern dieses Bandes bilden Zeitschriftenaufsätze aus den Jahren 1919 - 1921, die Rudolf Steiner noch selbst unter dem Titel "In Ausführung der Dreigliederung des sozialen Organismus" als Buch herausgegeben hatte. Sie beleuchten sozialistische Theorien, den Marxismus,die weltgeschichtlichen Ereignisse und Begriffsbildungen dieser für die weitere Entwicklung so entscheidend gewordenen Jahre.

Andere Beiträge behandeln die Anwendung der Dreigliederungsidee im praktischen Leben. Ergänzend sind Aufsätze aus der Zeit des Weltkrieges hinzugenommen, ferner Artikel aus Tageszeitungen, Aufrufe, Memoranden usw., in denen sich die "Dreigliederungsbewegung" spiegelt.