The Rudolf Steiner Archive

110. The Organization of Economic Life under the Influence of the Threefold Social Order

[ 1 ] In a commendable effort to give a voice to scholars representing new schools of thought in economics and thereby to educate the public in an unbiased manner, the Economic Society of the Canton of Bern invited the well-known anthroposophist Dr. Rudolf Steiner from Dornach to give a lecture on this subject. In anticipation of hearing new, bold, and fruitful ideas presented in a perceptive or witty manner, a large audience gathered on Friday evening in the Liedertafel Hall of the Casino. The speaker explained that the impulse toward social threefolding was not revolutionary but rather sought to build upon what already existed. Spiritual and economic life constituted the two outer wings of the threefold social organism. In these areas, authority based on natural principles, as well as competence and expertise, were the decisive factors. What remained fell to the state-legal component. Here, the democratic principle applies. Each member must be self-reliant. Labor must be separated from economic life and incorporated into the state-legal sphere. Historical development tends in this direction toward threefold social organization. The lecture was met with applause from some of those present. In the discussion, Prof. Reichesberg demonstrated in detail that no new ideas had been put forward, but rather that fragments of various theories had been assembled into a mosaic. The divisions mentioned were entirely artificial. Dr. Kellenberger noted that the speaker’s remarks failed to address the crux of the social question: the fact of the existence of income independent of work. In his lengthy closing remarks, peppered with psychological and physiological terms, Mr. Steiner responded to the comments that had been made. It can and must be said that the lecture was a disappointment for the executive board and the members.