Dornach, Switzerland. What is life like as a young person in today’s world? We asked around. Answers from Owen Parker Hughes, currently a student of Anthroposophy at the Goetheanum.
What question(s) would you like an answer to?
I would like to continue exploring how anthroposophy applies to the contemporary world’s problems and, in doing so, begin to think about the future—both theoretically and praxiologically. I am interested in how one negotiates the relationship between Anthroposophy and the modern world. For example—how does Waldorf education need to present itself so as to be able to exist today and how might it approach modern questions and problems through anthroposophical lenses?
Also important to me is the question of how we as human beings might—both individually and collectively—pursue the future and plan our progression. What might an anthroposophical understanding of progress look like in concrete terms in relation to technology, cultural creation, industry and production and maybe even space exploration or various things that are going to come onto the horizon in the future of human civilization? What can be considered as progress out of anthroposophy? And should progress only be determined organically? Or could technologies be developed from anthroposophy? Also, where do we draw the lines in terms of bio-optimization? I am interested in Anthroposophy’s perspectives on this. At what point do we continue to seek to transcend our limitations? Or—whether we understand human limitations as weaknesses or as aspects of our biology that we could conceivably, in the foreseeable future adapt using technology—do we accept such limits as maybe having a karmic significance? Should we engage in this development at all? Do we allow the biological evolution without interference? What artificial aspects of optimization are compatible with Anthroposophy and how do we ensure that these are not harmful or causing an atrophy of sorts, irreparably impacting humanity?
More Goetheanum Studium
Image Study trip to Weimar. Photo: Andrea De La Cruz
