Goetheanism: An Impulse of Transformation and Resurrection

12 lectures to Society members, Dornach, Switzerland, Jan. 3 – Feb. 2, 1919 (CW 188)

“There will be a resurrection―a resurrection that should not be imagined politically...but it will be a resurrection. Goetheanism still rests in the grave as far as external culture is concerned. But Goetheanism must rise again.” ― Rudolf Steiner

During the first winter following World War I, Rudolf Steiner appealed to the spirit of Central Europe―characterized here as “Goetheanism”―which had languished for decades. Only such a spiritual force could resolve the pressing social, national, and international issues of that time. A new constellation of polarized hostile opposition emerged following the war, with the East and Bolshevism on one side and the victorious West and Americanism on the other. In the center―with no clear role or hope for the future―was a defeated Central Europe. But this “center” must not become a vacuum, implored Steiner; rather, it needs to discover its true world-historical task.

In this context, Steiner speaks with deep seriousness and urgency about the work of Goetheanism, which begins with understanding the threefold organization of human beings and leads to the threefold social structure. Steiner also discusses the key role of the consciousness soul in the present epoch and how Schiller’s Aesthetic Letters and Goethe’s fairytale (The Green Snake and the Beautiful Lily) are linked to contemporary challenges. Moreover, he discusses a multitude of seemingly diverse but interrelated themes, such as the migration of peoples in the past and present, the thinking of John of the Cross, and the modern path of spirit cognition.

This first English publication of these historic lectures features an introduction by Christian von Arnim.

This volume is a translation from German of Der Goethanismus, ein Umwandlungsimpuls und Auferstehungsgedanke: Menschenwissenschaft und Sozialwissenschaft (GA 188).

Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925) was born in the small village of Kraljevec, Austro-Hungarian Empire (now in Croatia), where he grew up. As a young man, he lived in Weimar and Berlin, where he became a well-published scientific, literary, and philosophical scholar, known especially for his work with Goethe's scientific writings. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he began to develop his early philosophical principles into an approach to systematic research into psychological and spiritual phenomena. Formally beginning his spiritual teaching career under the auspices of the Theosophical Society, Steiner came to use the term Anthroposophy (and spiritual science) for his philosophy, spiritual research, and findings. The influence of Steiner's multifaceted genius has led to innovative and holistic approaches in medicine, various therapies, philosophy, religious renewal, Waldorf education, education for special needs, threefold economics, biodynamic agriculture, Goethean science, architecture, and the arts of drama, speech, and eurythmy. In 1924, Rudolf Steiner founded the General Anthroposophical Society, which today has branches throughout the world. He died in Dornach, Switzerland.