Striving for Spiritual Science

YOU have probably heard of Steiner schools, but how much do you know of the philosophy behind the movement? Michael Hallam explores the practical legacy of Rudolf Steiner

KEY aspects of alternative living are starting to become mainstream, and activities which were once considered to be very fringe, such as buying organic food or visiting an alternative health practitioner, are part of most of our normal routine.

As one begins to search beyond the strictly conventional, one finds all kinds of parallel institutions and activities, from schools and farming systems to alternative clinics and even alternative holidays - many of which have been happily chugging along for decades. One such group of institutions are those inspired by the Austrian philosopher-scientist Rudolf Steiner.
Plenty of people have had some acquaintance with Steiner schools and Biodynamic farming. Others may have heard about the Camphill Communities, for people with special needs, and many more will be using the Weleda medical and cosmetic range of products. But what about the movement that inspired these social and economic initiatives?

Rudolf Steiner is one of those luminary, almost mythological figures, who some people refer to in hushed and revered tones. In fact, his contribution is quite simple - the complexity lies in the details.

Steiner's principle contribution was the development and promotion of 'Spiritual Science'. Its governing principle is that the spiritual/non-physical aspects of existence should be investigated using the same principles of logic, reason and objectivity as the scientific investigation of the physical world. This builds on earlier work by the artist and scientist Goethe.

Goethe's work sought to look beyond the artificial barrier that exists between spirit and matter and to objectively observe the interrelations between the two. Unlike matter-only science, which achieves its objectivity by excluding the personal, Goethe worked on developing the necessary inner-faculties to fine-tune his ability to discriminate between subjective and objective thoughts and feelings.

This led to practical discoveries concerning the subtle workings of things in the fields of botany, anatomy and optics. It was Goethe's insights into the nature of light and colour that inspired much of Turner's painting. This new method of discovery, which kept the human being at the heart of the process, was later elaborated and enhanced by Steiner.

The work of Rudolf Steiner led to the development of three different kinds of organisational activity.

First, a school of spiritual science was established in Switzerland, aptly named the Goetheanum, with research faculties in the arts, medicine, agriculture, mathematics and the social and physical sciences.

Second, a general society was founded for those who agreed with the aims of the school and wanted to work together in a less specific way. The Anthroposophical Society, but translates simply as an approach to understanding both the world of nature and the world of spirit through direct human experience. Central to this society is the notion that individuals should be free in their relationship to knowledge and should not accept things simply because they are revealed by some authority. This attitude sits well with our current growing distrust of authorities.

One key feature of this society is that although it looks to the school in Dornach as its central focus it is, at its heart, grass roots-led. Anyone can join and there are no particular points of view which have to be accepted, only a willingness to accept the kind of research approach practiced by the school.

Groups of the general society are self-organising and tend to 'cluster' at a regional and national level, or according to subject interest.

The third kind of organisation inspired by Steiner are the practical initiatives. These were the result of various approaches and requests to use this scientific methodology in particular subject areas. So the Biodynamic Agricultural Movement was begun after farmers raised concerns about declining crop yields. This led to the organising of an agricultural course, to look into some of these practical problems.

The Steiner school movement was begun when a local factory owner wanted to set up a school for the workers' children and asked Steiner to help devise the curriculum.

In every case the professionals concerned were encouraged to carry on their own research and, in this way, new insights have been developed in a whole range of practical areas, including medicine, artistic therapy, farming, education, architecture, economics, machine technology and mathematics.

While interlinked by a common approach, all three kinds of organisation - school of spiritual science, general society and the various institutions that take their inspiration from this approach - are all completely independent of each other. The individual must always be left to exercise their own free will at all times and, like the uniqueness of every individual, there is always more than one approach to things.

The legacy of Steiner's spiritual science is there for all.



WANT TO KNOW MORE?
People and organisations working with anthroposophy:
The Threefold Centre for Human Ecology - www.threefolding.com, call 0845 456 9821
Anthroposophically-inspired therapy - 01647 433842
Exeter Kindergarten Project - 01392 866841
Rudolf Steiner School South Devon - www.steiner-south-devon.org, call 01803 762528
General events in the Exeter area - John Hammond 01392 201609
General events in the Totnes area -Helen Glover 01364 643911
The Christian Community, Buckfastleigh - 01364 644272
Biodynamic Agricultural Association - 01453 759501
Steiner House London - 020 7723 4400
Chirophonetic sound therapy - Willie Swindell 01364 643049