On being human : freedom and grace in the writings of Edith Stein

Abstract

Edith Stein, also known as St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, is acclaimed both as a philosopher and a mystic. The aim of this study is to highlight the development of her thought on the themes of freedom and grace throughout her writings. Steinian studies in the English-speaking world are more philosophical in nature. Since Stein took the human person as a constant central object for reflection, the themes of freedom and grace in her writings bring out the unity of scholar and saint; the integration not only of philosophy and theology, but also of spirituality through her mystical experiential knowledge. The method used for this study is that of literature review of her major works. This dissertation is divided into four main parts. The first chapter outlines a brief biography of the female scholar together with an exposition of the German phenomenological world of her times. The other three chapters correspond to three different phases of her life: that of the then docent philosopher where the theme of freedom in her early philosophical writings is considered; the next phase is that of the Christian philosopher where Stein incorporated Scholastic thought within her phenomenological method and where she also offered a systematic reflection in ontology and Christian anthropology; the third and final phase is when she entered the Carmelite Order and where her writings have a more spiritual and mystical leaning. This dissertation aims at providing a perspective into the writings of this female philosopher accentuating a leitmotif, that of freedom and grace which, even in our contemporary times, still seem elusive subjects. It is also my hope that this dissertation is a small stepping stone for further research on her invaluable insights on the human person.