The Threefolding of the Social Organism
“The Threefold Social Order” is one way in which societal institutions could be adapted to the ongoing development of humanity in a future-proof manner.
It is an important and essential contribution to preventing another war in Europe. Furthermore, it appears possible to establish lasting social peace because the social order organized in this way seems adapted to modern times.
Everyone who lives responsibly in today's world should at least have heard of this possibility and consciously understand its basic principles, and be able to apply them if necessary.
There is literature as the sand of the sea on this topic, so everyone can choose what seems most suitable for their understanding.
However, one might ask:
Why has this possibility not been sufficiently discussed or considered for approximately 110 years? Are radical revolutions easier than slow evolution (development)?
In summary, there are these three possible institutions in modern society:
| Human | – Societal institutions |
|---|---|
| Thinking | – corresponding to “free intellectual life”, schools, colleges, universities, and general societal institutions. |
| Feeling | – corresponding to “legal life”, the sense of what is right, the state (the state exists only here), police, courts, laws. |
| Willing | – corresponding to “economic life”, the economic order, which is self-organized and self-sustaining. |
A key aspect of today's educational, legal, and governmental problems is the long-standing, and now misguided, practice of entrusting large segments of society to state administration, bureaucrats, and political management. This social order is obviously no longer suited to the present day, as humanity has evolved.
Instead of allowing politics and administration to dominate all aspects of social life, which leads to war, it is recognized that independent social spheres exist. Every individual participates (Participation) in these spheres and thus contributes positively to shaping the future. Each individual is the connecting link between these three distinct new institutions of society.
The literature recommendations are also suggestions here. Thank you very much.
Literature
For those interested in learning more about The Threefold Social Organism:
www.social-ecology.org (English)
www.sozialimpulse.de (German)
www.sozialimpulse.de/soziale-dreigliederung/was-ist-dreigliederung-des-sozialen-organismus (German) und www.threefolding.net (English)
www.globenet3.org (English)
www.dreigliederung.de (German) und www.threefolding.org (English)
www.dreigliederung.de/gliederung/auswahlbibliographie (Literature in German)
www.educationforsocialrenewalfoundation.com (English)
www.alternativ3gliedern.com (German)
Books related to the threefold structuring of society:
Die Kernpunkte der sozialen Frage in den Lebensnotwendigkeiten der Gegenwart und Zukunft. PDF (German): archive.org/details/rudolf-steiner-ga-023 und glomer.com/products/die-kernpunkte-der-sozialen-frage
Vom Einheitsstaat zum dreigliedrigen sozialen Organismus. PDF (German): archive.org/details/rudolf-steiner-ga-334
Shaping Globalization - Civil Society, Cultural Power and Threefolding; Nicanor Perlas (New Society Publishers, 2003) amzn.eu/d/07ln8XVR
Common Wealth - For a Free, Equal, Mutual, and Sustainable Society; Martin Large (Hawthorn Press, 2010) rudolfsteinerbookstore.com/product/common-wealth
After Capitalism; Michael Spence (Adonis Press, 2014) amzn.eu/d/0aTrB8NV
Functional Threefoldness in the Human Organism and Human Society; Johannes Rohen (Adonis Press, 2011) – außer Druck.
What is Money? - A Discussion; Joseph Beuys (2010) amzn.eu/d/08AS2Sd6 ; German: Was ist Geld?: Eine Podiumsdiskussion. amzn.eu/d/0iFf8gJS
Freeing the Human Spirit: The Threefold Social Order, Money & the Waldorf School; Michael Spence (AWSNA, 2001) PDF: leadtogether.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Freeing-the-human-spirit-M-Spence.pdf
Associative Economics; Gary Lamb (Waldorf Publications, 2016) amzn.eu/d/0hfoP4Y4
Finance at the Threshold: Rethinking the Real and Financial Economics; Christopher Houghton Budd (Routledge, 2016) amzn.eu/d/0j2mOo1q
Threefold Now; (a series of five books re-imagining the basis of civilizational renewal) Travis Henry (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2014-2016)
Becoming Human: A Social Task - The Threefold Social Order; Karl Konig (Floris Books, 2011) a.co/d/02AVpOlK
We are the Revolution!: Rudolf Steiner, Joseph Beuys and the Threefold Social Impulse; Ulrich Roesch (Temple Lodge Publishing, 2010) amzn.eu/d/01kIQEuv
For Rudolf Steiner's complete lectures and writings on the subject (Social Issues) in English language see: www.rsarchive.org/SocialIssues (please ensure capitals are used).
In German language e.g. see here: rudolf-steiner-online.de/app.html#thematic2 (middle bottom choose “Themenschwerpunkt”: “Soziale Dreigliederung”), or see here: steiner.wiki/Die_Rudolf_Steiner_Gesamtausgabe .
The literature recommendations are also suggestions here. Thank you very much.