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.
That’s great to hear, Ati. Yeah, architecture isn’t something I usually spend a lot of time with either, so it was also inspiring for me to come to understand Yamamoto’s work and intentions.
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"?
Thanks for your thoughts, Jennifer. Yeah, it's certainly not easy! But as far as I can see, the only question is: what's the path forward? Does anyone think party politics are going to create a healthy future? In a certain way, everyone does, because they're engaging in it so vehemently. But does anyone really think it's going to end with their party coming out on top? That they'll convince the other side? How? Through hatred and mockery? And what about the fact that both sides switch so many of their positions every few years...
So, how can we transcend party politics? Can we learn to care about the issues, but not believe the media when they say "this is life and death!" "People are going to die!" "Democracy is going to die!" And of course it's not really the media. It's not "them." It's us. We do the same thing every day in our conversations and social media feeds.
And of course there are real dangers, but we have to beyond sensationalism and outrage. We need to develop both greater objectivity about world events (and also about ourselves) and greater connectivity (interest) in the people around us. And we should try to develop outer social forms that increase the possibility of this happening.
I find that there are a lot of different ways for doing this. When I get outraged by a story I try to find out what the other side really thinks, what's their reasoning. It's usually not all that crazy. As Steiner says, it's not that difficult to prove both sides. That cools off my outrage. Another way, I try to strengthen my relationship to humanity's great ideals - especially freedom, equality, and solidarity. Everyone feels a connection to them when it's their own freedom or equality being trampled upon. Can we learn to discern these ideals so clearly that we learn to care about them when the freedom of strangers, or even our enemies, is being trampled on?
There are also two concrete exercise for developing greater objectivity and greater connectivity. Steiner brings them about halfway through the lecture "Social and Antisocial Forces in the Human Being." If you're interested, you can find them here: https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/SocFor_index.html
The exercise aren't particularly easy, but none of this stuff is easy. And all we can do is go as far as we can go with it... one step after another. But I think we can actually go pretty far because the steps become more clear as we focus our energies, get rid of distractions, etc. And then, if we can't get it all one this time, there's always our next incarnation :)
These are great practices in keeping our own biases in check. It really does make a difference when you switch up what you watch and read in order to understand the other side. I wish we could force this practice on all 🙂 - empathetic thinking and feeling is something I think our society is weak in. As for politics, and the sentiment that “it’s never been this bad in history ever!” (Of which I’m guilty), maybe a stronger focus on the happenings in our own smaller circles might also be energy better spent. Thanks Seth. I’ll check out the link.
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.
That’s great to hear, Ati. Yeah, architecture isn’t something I usually spend a lot of time with either, so it was also inspiring for me to come to understand Yamamoto’s work and intentions.
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"?
Thanks for your thoughts, Jennifer. Yeah, it's certainly not easy! But as far as I can see, the only question is: what's the path forward? Does anyone think party politics are going to create a healthy future? In a certain way, everyone does, because they're engaging in it so vehemently. But does anyone really think it's going to end with their party coming out on top? That they'll convince the other side? How? Through hatred and mockery? And what about the fact that both sides switch so many of their positions every few years...
So, how can we transcend party politics? Can we learn to care about the issues, but not believe the media when they say "this is life and death!" "People are going to die!" "Democracy is going to die!" And of course it's not really the media. It's not "them." It's us. We do the same thing every day in our conversations and social media feeds.
And of course there are real dangers, but we have to beyond sensationalism and outrage. We need to develop both greater objectivity about world events (and also about ourselves) and greater connectivity (interest) in the people around us. And we should try to develop outer social forms that increase the possibility of this happening.
I find that there are a lot of different ways for doing this. When I get outraged by a story I try to find out what the other side really thinks, what's their reasoning. It's usually not all that crazy. As Steiner says, it's not that difficult to prove both sides. That cools off my outrage. Another way, I try to strengthen my relationship to humanity's great ideals - especially freedom, equality, and solidarity. Everyone feels a connection to them when it's their own freedom or equality being trampled upon. Can we learn to discern these ideals so clearly that we learn to care about them when the freedom of strangers, or even our enemies, is being trampled on?
There are also two concrete exercise for developing greater objectivity and greater connectivity. Steiner brings them about halfway through the lecture "Social and Antisocial Forces in the Human Being." If you're interested, you can find them here: https://rsarchive.org/Lectures/SocFor_index.html
The exercise aren't particularly easy, but none of this stuff is easy. And all we can do is go as far as we can go with it... one step after another. But I think we can actually go pretty far because the steps become more clear as we focus our energies, get rid of distractions, etc. And then, if we can't get it all one this time, there's always our next incarnation :)
These are great practices in keeping our own biases in check. It really does make a difference when you switch up what you watch and read in order to understand the other side. I wish we could force this practice on all 🙂 - empathetic thinking and feeling is something I think our society is weak in. As for politics, and the sentiment that “it’s never been this bad in history ever!” (Of which I’m guilty), maybe a stronger focus on the happenings in our own smaller circles might also be energy better spent. Thanks Seth. I’ll check out the link.