Edith Stein (1891-1942): searching for the truth in dark times

Abstract

Through a historical, and psychoanalytical perspectives as well as a hermeneutical method the book provide an insight into the life of Edith Stein (1891-1942). An iconic figure of the 20th century from Jewish family, Stein was born in Breslau, Prussia, studied with Husserl and developed important phenomenological investigations in education, womanhood, philosophy, theology and mystic. Discriminated for being a woman and Jewish, was unable to follow career in the academia. Influenced by saint Teresa D'Avila, converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelita monk, neither of which was enough to escape persecution of the Nazis; she was murdered in Auschwitz concentration camp in 1942. She was beatified by pope john Paul II, and became patron of Europe. This work examines the roots and influences of her theoretical contributions as well as the way she answered the fundamental human questions that she dealt with as woman, philosopher, Jewish-catholic, living the tension between Judaism and Catholicism. The main sources are her autobiography, letters, writings, the literature about her life and times and iconographic material. (AU)