The Concept of Christian Philosophy in Edith Stein

Abstract

In her mature thought, Edith Stein presents a philosophy that is positively Christian and specifically Catholic. The rationale behind her presentation rests upon three interplaying factors: the nature of philosophy; the nature and state of finite creatures in relation to God; and the meaning of being a Christian. Stein maintains that given the essential imperfection and natural limitation of philosophy as a human science, philosophy lies interiorly open for its elevation and completion through its supplementation by the supernatural contents of Revelation, yet in such a way that it retains its proper philosophical character precisely as determined by its specific object domain appropriately investigated. In this paper, I critically examine this provocative proposal of Stein by setting it in contrast to “the Thomistic solution” of Jacques Maritain, upon which Stein’s solution to the question foundationally relies, and thereby intend to manifest its basic significance while simultaneously assessing its philosophical validity.