Rudolf Steiner’s Participatory Insights into the World of Microbes in Nature and Humans as an Outcome of His Goethean Research Approach

Rudolf Steiner’s approach to study nature in a participatory way based on Goethe’s pioneering research has been adopted and applied in quite a few research fields, like botany, zoology, landscape ecology, and pharmacy. One field, almost unknown with its greater implications in ecology and medicine 100 years ago, has been little studied with this approach: Microorganisms, today well known as the microbiome. One reason why this field has been largely neglected in Goethean-based participatory research may be the fact that microorganisms can hardly be approached by phenomenology-based studies and are not physically observable, like plants and animals. It is surprising, though, that Rudolf Steiner, more than 100 years ago, conceptualized microorganisms, their role and significance in nature and man, compatible with their state-of-the-art view today and far ahead of the accepted concept of microorganisms at his time. This is obvious from lectures in medicine and agriculture and indicates how Rudolf Steiner grasped the concept of microorganisms with the Goethean approach. 
I will present three examples highlighting Steiner’s participatory and modern view in understanding microorganisms in the context of their occurrence. I) He strongly criticized the concept of pathogenic bacteria as the prime cause of a disease and emphasized that these bacteria rather reflect that the human body was susceptible to this disease. II) He emphasized the importance of the digestive system and the intestinal flora for the development of the brain and developing thoughts. Today, the gut-brain axis is a hot research topic in life sciences but 100 years ago nobody was even thinking of this relationship. III) The horn manure preparation is a distinct means in biodynamic farming. He emphasized that it enriches distinct microorganisms and life and formative forces which are transmitted to the soil and crop plants. This enrichment of such microorganisms has recently been proven.