Every day we’re losing the capacity to bridge differences and connect, but what can we do about it? Some ideas for designing a social future — from Riken Yamamoto to Rudolf Steiner.
It has been a while since I considered architecture, so this was really refreshing for me - especially the topic you presented, tying it to the social issue, to Steiner and the Goetheanum. It gave rise to a feeling of enthusiasm at a time when, as you rightly say, we live in a state of loneliness and separation - both outwardly and as an inner state. Very refreshing - nutritious food for thought!
We need to be reminded about what matters and provoked to think creatively - all the time. And you are doing that with your work. Otherwise something inside us withers and our imagination wanes. Your article made me think of that as well.
I appreciate your parallel of architectural design in promoting a stronger social engagement. I will say, however, that I wish it were that easy, (although I also realize you are not contending that it is). It seems as though even when we have occasion to come away from behind our screens and out of our homes to see and be with each other, we still find ourselves alone and lacking union with each other. How do we counter this strong power that has us at odds with our dearest family members - our children, parents, closest friends? I feel we're being played - and we're not doing well. Our time is not so different from Steiner's time in ways of political poles. In addressing ideas like Marxism or spiritual science, he makes the following observations: "One can therefore prove something quite strictly, and also prove its opposite. It is possible today to prove spiritualism on the one hand and materialism on the other. And people may fight against each other from equally good standpoints because present-day intellectualism is in an upper layer of reality and does not go down into the depths of being. And it is the same with party opinions. A man who does not look deeper but simply lets himself be accepted into a certain party-circle — by reason of his education, heredity, circumstances of life and State — quite honestly believes — or so he thinks — in the possibility of proving the tenets of the party into which he has slipped, as he says. And then — then he fights against someone else who has slipped into another party! And the one is just as right as the other." (Ahrimanic Deception, Oct. 27, 1919).
In circles where I go to find support for the same spiritual thoughts and longings that I have, I find myself recently discouraged and disheartened at the division that shows itself in political bias (within these circles), - Trump, Biden, Israel, Palestine, to vaccinate, to not vaccinate, freedom to abort, protection of life, etc..... You mention towards the end of your essay "what’s most important is how we evolve our thoughts and feelings towards each other, how we feel ourselves connected to one another, how we come to take an interest in another person, how we carry that person within us." I so agree with this. And yet, we, (or at least me), still struggle in fighting that emotion that causes paralysis in moving forward with another when such issues loom so big for all of us. How do we release these issues placed in front of us in order to secure our connection to each other and stop seeing each other as "toxic"?
It has been a while since I considered architecture, so this was really refreshing for me - especially the topic you presented, tying it to the social issue, to Steiner and the Goetheanum. It gave rise to a feeling of enthusiasm at a time when, as you rightly say, we live in a state of loneliness and separation - both outwardly and as an inner state. Very refreshing - nutritious food for thought!
We need to be reminded about what matters and provoked to think creatively - all the time. And you are doing that with your work. Otherwise something inside us withers and our imagination wanes. Your article made me think of that as well.
I appreciate your parallel of architectural design in promoting a stronger social engagement. I will say, however, that I wish it were that easy, (although I also realize you are not contending that it is). It seems as though even when we have occasion to come away from behind our screens and out of our homes to see and be with each other, we still find ourselves alone and lacking union with each other. How do we counter this strong power that has us at odds with our dearest family members - our children, parents, closest friends? I feel we're being played - and we're not doing well. Our time is not so different from Steiner's time in ways of political poles. In addressing ideas like Marxism or spiritual science, he makes the following observations: "One can therefore prove something quite strictly, and also prove its opposite. It is possible today to prove spiritualism on the one hand and materialism on the other. And people may fight against each other from equally good standpoints because present-day intellectualism is in an upper layer of reality and does not go down into the depths of being. And it is the same with party opinions. A man who does not look deeper but simply lets himself be accepted into a certain party-circle — by reason of his education, heredity, circumstances of life and State — quite honestly believes — or so he thinks — in the possibility of proving the tenets of the party into which he has slipped, as he says. And then — then he fights against someone else who has slipped into another party! And the one is just as right as the other." (Ahrimanic Deception, Oct. 27, 1919).
In circles where I go to find support for the same spiritual thoughts and longings that I have, I find myself recently discouraged and disheartened at the division that shows itself in political bias (within these circles), - Trump, Biden, Israel, Palestine, to vaccinate, to not vaccinate, freedom to abort, protection of life, etc..... You mention towards the end of your essay "what’s most important is how we evolve our thoughts and feelings towards each other, how we feel ourselves connected to one another, how we come to take an interest in another person, how we carry that person within us." I so agree with this. And yet, we, (or at least me), still struggle in fighting that emotion that causes paralysis in moving forward with another when such issues loom so big for all of us. How do we release these issues placed in front of us in order to secure our connection to each other and stop seeing each other as "toxic"?