Religious-philosophical Reflections on the Relationship of Freedom and Commitment in Edith Stein and Simone Weil

Publication Type

Book Chapter

Year of Publication

2006

Author

Beckmann-Zöller, Beate

Editor

Berkman, Joyce Avrech

Book

Contemplating Edith Stein

Pages

301-319

Publisher

University of Notre Dame Press

Place Published

Notre Dame, Indiana

Language

English

Translator

Lake, Stephen

Chapter

16

Keywords

Stein, Edith
freedom
grace

Annotation

Beckman-Zöller examines the philosophical thought of Edith Stein and Simone Weil arguing although they may seem similar in their respective focus on what she labels the ‘eternal’, the intellectual thought and method of these two women was very different, leading them in different directions in their understanding of freedom in relationship to commitment, especially the willingness to commit to the church. The greater part of the essay is taken up with the work of Edith Stein. The discussion of Weil tends to focus on where and how she differs from Stein, with, in many cases, these differences casting a critical light on Weil’s understanding of nature, grace and freedom

Notes

Originally published in German "'An der Schwelle der Kirche': Freiheit und Bindung bei Edith Stein and Simone Weil," Edith Stein Jahrbuch 4 (1998): 531-47