Freedom, Intentionality, and Trinitarian Love in Edith Stein’s Thought—The Need for a Phenomenology–Theology Dialogue to Have a Deeper Understanding of It
Religions November 1, 2023 Haddy Bello
Edith Stein's philosophy of freedom centers on the idea that human beings achieve authentic self-realization by configuring themselves in the image of God, whose own life is lived in perfect freedom. Stein defines freedom as "I can" (Ich kann). This capacity rests on two foundations: the phenomenological concept of intentionality, drawn from Brentano and Husserl, and the human experience of divine love. The argument traces how Stein's thought, rooted in phenomenology, becomes increasingly shaped by theological and mystical concerns, culminating in the view that historical human fulfillment requires participation in divine life.