On the topic of biodynamic winemaking, it's worth giving a bit more background on the philosophical background to the movement.
As our reading describes, the idea originated with Rudolf Steiner, an Austro-Germanic naturalist who was inspired by readings of Eastern (Asian) philosophy and literature -- particular from the Indian subcontinent -- to create his own philosophy that melded Eastern and Western elements. This "Anthroposophy" was a reaction to the mass production modernism of the 1920s in much the same way that the modernist art of his time was.
Steiner was a passionate architect, and his buildings exemplify a lot of the core tenets of the movement (see the movement's current headquarters, the Goetheneum, and its older version). Whimsical, natural, faintly eastern. You can read more about the philosophy here, but as our reading also noted it was largely focused on aligning and returning human existence to harmony with nature. In the architecture, you see that in the curves and embellishments of the stone walls, which resemble the boughs of a tree. Similarly, the furniture at Waldorf schools (the movement's educational arm) should be entirely made of carved wood. Schoolchildren all learn how to plant gardens and work with natural crafts from very young ages. Steiner based his works, which extend across epistemology, science, medicine, religion, economics, art, drama, and politics, around this principle.
Incidentally, I have a close personal connection to Steiner. He was close friends with my great-grandparents and personally named my grandmother and her siblings (with very old-fashioned Wagnerian German names...very odd). My entire Dad's side of the family all went to Waldorf schools. Let me know if you'd like to hear any stories!
As our reading describes, the idea originated with Rudolf Steiner, an Austro-Germanic naturalist who was inspired by readings of Eastern (Asian) philosophy and literature -- particular from the Indian subcontinent -- to create his own philosophy that melded Eastern and Western elements. This "Anthroposophy" was a reaction to the mass production modernism of the 1920s in much the same way that the modernist art of his time was.
Steiner was a passionate architect, and his buildings exemplify a lot of the core tenets of the movement (see the movement's current headquarters, the Goetheneum, and its older version). Whimsical, natural, faintly eastern. You can read more about the philosophy here, but as our reading also noted it was largely focused on aligning and returning human existence to harmony with nature. In the architecture, you see that in the curves and embellishments of the stone walls, which resemble the boughs of a tree. Similarly, the furniture at Waldorf schools (the movement's educational arm) should be entirely made of carved wood. Schoolchildren all learn how to plant gardens and work with natural crafts from very young ages. Steiner based his works, which extend across epistemology, science, medicine, religion, economics, art, drama, and politics, around this principle.
Incidentally, I have a close personal connection to Steiner. He was close friends with my great-grandparents and personally named my grandmother and her siblings (with very old-fashioned Wagnerian German names...very odd). My entire Dad's side of the family all went to Waldorf schools. Let me know if you'd like to hear any stories!
Stories, Soren! Please!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued as to why many in the wine industry seem to discredit his methodology and insights simply because it is interdisciplinary or has extreme interpretations. To me, the debate over Steiner's legacy reminds me of debates in academia rather than industry. For example, in modern academia, philosophers who span multiple disciplines or don't choose a single area of interest to focus on are often discredited for taking philosophies or principles and applying them to other works or theories. (Additionally, philosophers with extreme followers are often hailed in industry but hated in academia.) However, interdisciplinary thinking in business is often celebrated. A good example is investing, where applying philosophies from other fields often lead to impressive performance. (Think VCs who attribute their success to philosophical truths.) This being said, I would expect the wine community to appreciate interdisciplinary thinking and marketing more so than academics.
Stories, Soren! Please!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued as to why many in the wine industry seem to discredit his methodology and insights simply because it is interdisciplinary or has extreme interpretations. To me, the debate over Steiner's legacy reminds me of debates in academia rather than industry. For example, in modern academia, philosophers who span multiple disciplines or don't choose a single area of interest to focus on are often discredited for taking philosophies or principles and applying them to other works or theories. (Additionally, philosophers with extreme followers are often hailed in industry but hated in academia.) However, interdisciplinary thinking in business is often celebrated. A good example is investing, where applying philosophies from other fields often lead to impressive performance. (Think VCs who attribute their success to philosophical truths.) This being said, I would expect the wine community to appreciate interdisciplinary thinking and marketing more so than academics.