THE MISSION AND TASK OF THE SECTION FOR LITERARY ARTS AND THE HUMANITIES – Christiane Haid

The Section for Literary Arts and the Humanities was founded at the Goetheanum at the beginning of the last century. This field of human endeavour had been flourishing since the 18^th century. Rudolf Steiner stated that its primary task was to create a bridge between science and art, between knowledge and creative imagination. Recognising its importance for the spiritual life of mankind, he lamented the fact that it was: “a field that, unfortunately for our human civilisation, has been put into a corner.” The poet Albert Steffen took on the leadership of this Section at the time of the founding of the School for Spiritual Science. The literary arts and the humanities have become ever more relevant in our digital age where everything is quantified and our culture is increasingly determined by mass media. Language is being misused for purposes of manipulating public opinion and spreading lies. And the human spirit is in danger of losing its very identity.

A renewed awareness of language and its various dimensions, extending to the primeval Logos itself, is an essential tool for preserving the quality of true humanness. Languages, literature, the history of the mysteries and philosophy all provide invaluable references for us today if we wish to work towards guaranteeing a positive future for our human civilisation.