What’s On

A conference organised by The Humanities and Social Sciences Sections of the School of Spiritual Science and the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain

The rapid global development of AI is inexorable, and offers infinite possibilities to enhance the quality and scope of our lives. There are no areas of our professional, financial, social, cultural, medical and personal experiences that are not amenable to the effects of this technology.

This challenges us to find ways of working creatively in what is also becoming an increasingly dehumanised culture, ever more disconnected from nature, and with virtual substitutes for true human encounter. 

We need to understand the significance of personal and sensitive data being undeletable, manipulable, and indiscriminately accessible, and of our being inextricably bound through mechanised connections and algorithms that serve commercial and questionable political interests.

To what extent is our evolution in our own hands? What inner practices can we adopt to hone the necessary discernment to engage healthily with the technology without becoming in thrall to it?  This technology cannot be avoided. Will the need to discern what opportunities these developments might have for humanity lead to positive engagement, as for example in a Manichean approach?

The aim of this conference is to explore and raise questions about these issues in the context of our conscious responsibility for our unfinished human evolution . 

Jeremy Naydler, Paul Levy, Edwin Hübner, and Malin Starrett will be the main contributors to this event.  Their professional, artistic, and life experiences will inform, inspire, and provoke discussion.  Each of their contributions  will be followed by time for discussion, which we see as an essential part of the conference.

                                                   Fritz Wefelmeyer and Andrew Wolpert

Friday 11^th October

7:00 - 7:15  Welcome and Introduction

7:15 – 9.15

Introductory presentations by conference speakers

Jeremy Naydler, Paul Levy, Edwin Hübner, Malin Starrett

Followed by open space for questions for clarification and to prepare

the conference theme

 Saturday 12^th

10 – 11.30   From Machine Intelligence to the Intelligence of the Heart  

Jeremy Naydler

11:30 - 12.00  Coffee   

12.00 – 13.15 Staying Awake and Conscious in the Digital Realm  

Paul Levy

13.15 - 2.30  Lunch

2.30 - 4.00   Choice of artistic activities

4 - 4.30   Tea

4.30 - 6.00  Between Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Spaces: Human

Thinking and Perception   Edwin Hübner

Sunday 13^th

10 – 10.45   Machines with Memories   Malin Starrett

10:45 – 11.45

Workshops/group discussions

11:45 – 12.15   Coffee

12:15 – 13.15   Plenary discussion and closing contributions 

From Machine Intelligence to the Intelligence of the Heart
Machine intelligence is the product of the morally and emotionally disengaged “onlooker consciousness”, which was the driving force behind the Scientific Revolution. In the mirror of machine intelligence, the onlooker consciousness is presented with its own reflection. Both the human soul and nature call out for a counterbalancing consciousness that is morally awake and lovingly engaged with the natural world – an intelligence of the heart, through which a healthier relationship to machine intelligence can be forged. Jeremy Naydler philosopher, gardener, and author of several books including, In the Shadow of the Machine: The Prehistory of the Computer and the Evolution of Consciousness (Temple Lodge, 2018) and The Struggle for a Human Future: 5G, Augmented Reality and the Internet of Things (Temple Lodge, 2020).

Staying Awake and Conscious in the Digital Realm
The rise of digital technology is now touching all of our lives whether we want it to or not. How do we remain awake in the digital age and not fall into digital stupor and distraction? What opportunity does the rise of technology create for our own development and the development of humanity as a whole? This will be a practical conversation about how we meet the digital realm with alertness and humble mastery. It is all too easy to surrender whatever real freedom we have gained in our lives to the world of digital technology. How do we maintain an upright stance both physically and spiritually? Drawing on over 30 years of research Paul Levy will share practical examples, exercises and pathways to remaining alert in a digital age.

Paul Levy is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Brighton, an Associate at the University of Warwick, founder of the theatre magazine FringeReview, an author and facilitator. He is the author of several books including Digital Inferno, The Poetry of Change, and Technosophy.

Between Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Spaces: Human Thinking and Perception

Thinking and perceiving are the two basic pillars of human cognition. Artificial intelligence threatens our ability to think for ourselves; virtual worlds tempt us to lose the real world. This threatens the very foundations of humanity. On the other hand, artificial intelligence and virtual spaces offer new possibilities for freedom and communication. However, this presupposes acquiring new skills allowing us to meet - and not just give into - the demands of high-performance technologies. Rudolf Steiner’s work offers precious inspiration for this.

Edwin E. F. Hübner is Professor at the Freie Hochschule Stuttgart - Seminar for Waldorf Pedagogy. He studied Mathematics and Physics and taught at the Waldorf School in Frankfurt. Academic research in the area of media pedagogy. Publications include ChatGPT Symptom of a technological future: The Tasks of Education in the Age of the Mechanisation of the Spirit (2023), Human Spirit and Artificial Intelligence (2020) and Imaginations in Virtual Space: Technology and Spirituality (2008).

Machines with Memories
We now live in a world where nearly all knowledge expressible in words, where nearly all physical images and recorded sounds can be accessed at the touch of a button. In utilising the internet to communicate and to store personal thoughts, images and audio, many people are outsourcing their inner lives to partly exist in data centres. Such storing and processing of personal data may affect human beings while incarnated and also after death. This presentation will trace some relevant aspects of the history of machines with memories, leading to the situation today.

Malin Starrett trained in Anthroposophical approaches to science and technology through the Anthro-Tech Association, while also carrying out natural scientific doctoral studies in Ulster University (2001). Since then, he has continued studies and experimental researches in areas relating to science and technology, also writing and teaching on these themes.

Book a place: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/t-eamqmoa

We can accommodate 50 participants. 

Full price £150 , Concessions £95

For further concessions, please apply directly to The Office at Rudolf Steiner House: ilona.pimbert.rsh@anth.org.uk

Tea and coffee will be provided. There are many opportunities for lunch in the area.

This conference is organised by the Humanities and Social Sciences Sections of the School of Spiritual Science and the Anthroposophical Society in Great Britain

An intimate performance of the sublime works of Jelaluddin Rumi,13C Gnostic Sufi Master, Poet, and Awakened Heart

with Duncan Mackintosh

who has been performing Rumi’s work for over 30 years

‘I am burning with the love of God!
Does anyone need a light?’
- Rumi

A spontaneous blend of Rumi poems, aspects of his life, and some of the tales he told, depending on the moment and the nature of the audience - as a means to allow Rumi’s extraordinary inspiration, his heart nourishing wisdom, passion and humour to touch and open us - and finally bless us, as silence - as grace.

‘ What you do is beyond a performance. You re-plug us to the current. What you are doing is alive. It burns, caresses, consoles, re-awakens… You are like embers and the other day, I felt like kindling.’    -Muriel Maufroy (Author of Rumi’s Daughter)

‘ If you ever want to be reminded what it is to live and to love and you hear of this man performing this poetry – run there! '- Isabel Losada, Author of ‘For Tibet, With Love’ And ‘The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment’

This performance will be within 2 hrs with a short break included.

Performance: £15 full, £10 concession

Performance and Workshop: £50 full, £30 concession

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/e-yeqpmb

Joyful Food Festival

Doors open at 2pm until 5.30pm. All welcome – no need to book, just come along

BD100 Awards Ceremony

6.30pm doors open,  Awards Ceremony starts at  7pm – 8.30pm
Booking is essential.  To reserve your place for the Awards Ceremony  – please book online at: https://tinyurl.com/4hvzbmtp or scan the QR code below.

We look forward to seeing you at this very special event.

Expect a joyful mix of top biodynamic food and wine stalls with things to taste and buy, plus a stimulating rolling programme of biodynamic talks and films!  More details to come.. watch this space

Come and join us at 6.30pm for a reception and glass of biodynamic wine   before taking your place in the gorgeous Marylebone Theatre for the BD100 Awards Ceremony.

You are welcome to all or just part of this day – it’s sure to be a highlight of the Biodynamic Centenary Year.

For further information, please contact: projects@biodynamic.org.uk  or  01453 759501 (office hours 9am-1pm).

This event is being kindly supported and hosted by Rudolf Steiner House.

An intimate performance of the sublime works of Jelaluddin Rumi,13C Gnostic Sufi Master, Poet, and Awakened Heart

with Duncan Mackintosh

who has been performing Rumi’s work for over 30 years

‘I am burning with the love of God!
Does anyone need a light?’
- Rumi

A spontaneous blend of Rumi poems, aspects of his life, and some of the tales he told, depending on the moment and the nature of the audience - as a means to allow Rumi’s extraordinary inspiration, his heart nourishing wisdom, passion and humour to touch and open us - and finally bless us, as silence - as grace.

‘ What you do is beyond a performance. You re-plug us to the current. What you are doing is alive. It burns, caresses, consoles, re-awakens… You are like embers and the other day, I felt like kindling.’    -Muriel Maufroy (Author of Rumi’s Daughter)

‘ If you ever want to be reminded what it is to live and to love and you hear of this man performing this poetry – run there! '- Isabel Losada, Author of ‘For Tibet, With Love’ And ‘The Battersea Park Road to Enlightenment’

This performance will be within 2 hrs with a short break included.

Performance: £15 full, £10 concession

Performance and Workshop: £50 full, £30 concession

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/e-yeqpmb

Exploring the Mystery of Presence

Workshop

with Duncan Mackintosh

‘We are the mirror as well as the face in it

We are tasting the taste this instant of Eternity

We are pain and what cures pain both

We are the sweet cold water

And the jar the pours’

- Rumi

In this workshop, we will focus on contacting the pervading field of Presence - the formless ground and loving intelligence that is our source, our being, and the agent of our transformation...

...And create a welcoming crucible in which we can deepen our experience through simple practices of attention and enquiry, open to whatever each of us needs to experience and express.

‘...takes us to a place that is ordinarily hard to access... creates trust and safe boundaries to explore this beautiful arena of connecting with divine love/the presence’ - Sarah

‘Duncan's sessions on presence take place in a very warm loving atmosphere that encourages each group member to share their presence freely. We are discovering that love is our own Self!’ - Chris

Workshop: £40 full, £25 concession

Performance and Workshop: £50 full, £30 concession

https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/rudolf-steiner-house/e-yeqpmb

For any enquiries contact Duncan at thealchemyofpresence@gmail.com or 07816378989

For reviews and descriptions of the work see www.presenceworks.co.uk