The Living Philosophy of Edith Stein - by Peter Tyler (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Studying with Husserl in Göttingen, becoming a Carmelite nun, and finally meeting her death in Auschwitz, the multifaceted life of Edith Stein (1891-1942) is well known. But what about her writing? Have the different aspects of her scholarship received sufficient attention? Peter Tyler thinks not, and by drawing on previously untranslated and neglected sources, he reveals how Stein's work lies at the interface of philosophy, psychology, and theology.

Bringing Stein into conversation with a range of scholars and traditions, this book investigates two core elements of her thinking. From Nietzsche to Aquinas, psychoanalysis to the philosophy of the soul, and even the striking parallels between Stein's thought and Buddhist teaching, Tyler first unveils the interdisciplinary nature of what he terms her 'spiritual anthropology'. Second, he also explores her symbolic mentality. Articulating its poetic roots with the help of English poetry and medieval theology, he introduces Stein's self-named 'philosophy of life'.

Considered in the context of her own times, The Living Philosophy of Edith Steinunearths Stein's valuable contributions to numerous subjects that are still of great importance today, including not only the philosophies of mind and religion, but also social and political thought and the role of women in society. By examining the richness of her thinking, informed by three disciplines and the tumultuous first half of the twentieth century, Tyler shows us how Edith Stein is the guide we all need, as we seek to develop our own philosophy for life in the contemporary world.

Review Quotes

Edith Stein was a philosopher, theologian, mystic, and saint. Peter Tyler's book explores each of these aspects of Stein's life with clarity and penetration. Setting Stein in conversation with her major contemporaries, such as Freud and Jung, Husserl and Wittgenstein, Tyler shows why Stein's "living philosophy" is vital for our times.
Bernard McGinn, Naomi Shenstone Donnelley Professor emeritus, University of Chicago, USA

Peter Tyler's book allows readers to see and appreciate the person and thought of Edith Stein in a different light. The German philosopher and theologian is presented as offering a roadmap and an example of what it means to live a soulful and meaningful live, especially in times of violence and unrest. Tyler creates a genuine and novel dialogue of encounter and discovery through the writings of Stein and Ludwig Wittgenstein. This book serves not only as a guide to the work of Edith Stein but also to the practical possibility of richer life of existential meaning.
Antonio Calcagno, Professor of Philosophy, King's University College, Western University, Canada

About the Author

Peter Tyler is Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of Pastoral Theology at St Mary's University College, Twickenham, UK. Previous publications include The Return to the Mystical: Ludwig Wittgenstein, Teresa of Avila and the Christian Mystical Tradition (Continuum, 2011) and The Pursuit of the Soul: Psychoanalysis, Soul-making and the Christian Tradition (T & T Clark, 2016).