The Rudolf Steiner Archive

100. The Social Question

[ 1 ] The lecture held last night in the large Schützengarten Hall was well attended despite the bad weather, and despite the freezing temperatures, the audience bravely stayed until the very end. This is certainly proof that the topic interested the audience. The speaker, who identified the physical, mental, and spiritual hardship of the proletariat as the reason why the working masses can hope for salvation only through socialism, believes that today’s ruling class faces the looming world revolution with just as little understanding as the diplomatic corps, a few months before World War I, had no inkling of the thunderous world events that have now been rolling across Europe for nearly five years. The ruling class must heed the demands of the masses, who are soullessly harnessed to the drudgery of labor, if it wishes to avert the calamity threatening humanity. The division of the social question into physical, intellectual, and spiritual aspects arises from the threefold hardships that oppress the proletariat today. Despite the distinction between these three aspects, harmony into a unified whole is nevertheless necessary, and no part can be healthy while another is ailing. The separation of one aspect from another is likely more theoretical; in reality, they must always form a whole.

[ 2 ] In the discussion that followed the lecture—which was received with great applause—Mr. C. Wild, a writer, Dr. Iklé, labor secretary Widmer, and others participated. Dr. Iklé believed that the speaker relied too heavily on examples from Germany, Austria, and large cities. After all, we in a democracy have conditions quite different from those found in the monarchies that have just collapsed. Comrade Widmer and the speaker then effectively countered this view. Dr. Iklé’s remaining remarks drew attention to the difficulties that stand in the way of implementing such ideas, which the speaker had, in his view, presented in somewhat idealistic terms. Hösli, a postal clerk, recommended addressing the social question more from the religious perspective of love. He believes that only in this way can it be resolved in a manner that advances humanity.

[ 3 ] In a lengthy closing statement, the speaker then returned to his topic and addressed the various panelists. Unfortunately, he lacked the necessary passion to warm the cold feet of the audience, who, as already noted, bravely persevered despite the freezing cold but were nonetheless heartily glad when the interesting gathering came to an end.