Consideration of the truth revealed in the conception of education according to Edith Stein

Abstract

In the last chapter of Structure of the Human Person, Edith Stein states that philosophical reflection of phenomenological orientation allowed her to identify some essential human possibilities, clarifying the nature of the educational process. However, Edith Stein asserts at the same time that neither experience nor philosophical reflection enabled her to answer questions about the origin of the human being (namely, the origin of the world, the origin of the human race and the origin of each human individual). However, since questions of origin always question the human being, one could conclude, according to Edith Stein, that there is a possibility for human beings to dedicate themselves to these questions in a valid way from the perspective of philosophical reflection. What is at stake is the strong possibility of seeing the human being as a possible recipient of a divine revelation. In turn, considering the horizon of revelation, it is also possible to draw consequences for the education or formation of the human being, touching not only on universal aspects, related to the human race, but also seeking to emphasize the individual in each person. From this point of view, an educational process will only be complete if it reaches the particularities of each individual and takes seriously the possibility of revelation, understanding each person as a possible recipient of that revelation. This article explores this aspect of the educational process according to Edith Stein, showing how the role of educators is understood by the philosopher as a development of physical (material body), psychological (vitality and affection) and spiritual (thought and freedom) dimensions. It is precisely through the development of the spiritual dimension that one can and should consider the possibility of revelation, which calls for an intelligent and free response from each person.