Academic career Edith Stein

in april of 1913 stein arrived in gottengen in order study summer semester edmund husserl. end of summer edith had decided pursue degree philosopher under husserl , empathy had been chosen thesis topic. studies interrupted in july 1914 because of outbreak of world war i. served volunteer wartime red cross nurse in infectious diseases hospital @ märisch-weisskirchen in 1915. in 1916, stein moved freiburg in order complete dissertation on empathy. shortly before receiving degree agreed become husserl s assistant. after dissertation entitled zum problem der einfühlung (on problem of empathy) awarded on august 3rd 1916, made doctor of philosophy summa cum laude honor, began working quite independently husserl s assistant. in 2007 thesis, philosophical contributions of edith stein , john c. wilhelmsson argues stein influenced work of husserl during period. became member of faculty @ university of freiburg, worked teaching assistant husserl, had transferred institution. because woman, husserl did not support submitting habilitational thesis (a prerequisite academic chair) university of freiburg in 1918. other thesis, psychische kausalität (sentient causality), submitted @ university of göttingen following year, likewise rejected.

while stein had earlier contacts roman catholicism, reading of autobiography of mystic st. teresa of Ávila during summer holidays in bad bergzabern in 1921 prompted conversion. baptized on 1 january 1922, , dissuaded spiritual advisers seeking entry religious life, obtained position teach @ dominican nuns school in speyer 1923 1931. while there, translated thomas aquinas de veritate (of truth) german, familiarized herself roman catholic philosophy in general, , tried bridge phenomenology of former teacher, husserl, thomism. visited husserl , heidegger @ freiburg in april 1929, same month heidegger gave speech husserl on 70th birthday. in 1932 became lecturer @ catholic church-affiliated institute scientific pedagogy in münster, antisemitic legislation passed nazi government forced resign post in 1933. in letter pope pius xi, denounced nazi regime , asked pope openly denounce regime put stop abuse of christ s name.

as child of jewish people who, grace of god, past eleven years has been child of catholic church, dare speak father of christianity oppresses millions of germans. weeks have seen deeds perpetrated in germany mock sense of justice , humanity, not mention love of neighbor. years leaders of national socialism have been preaching hatred of jews.... responsibility must fall, after all, on brought them point , falls on keep silent in face of such happenings.

everything happened , continues happen on daily basis originates government calls christian . weeks not jews thousands of faithful catholics in germany, and, believe, on world, have been waiting , hoping church of christ raise voice put stop abuse of christ s name. not idolization of race , governmental power being pounded public consciousness radio open heresy? isn t effort destroy jewish blood abuse of holiest humanity of our savior, of blessed virgin , apostles? not diametrically opposed conduct of our lord , savior, who, on cross, still prayed persecutors? , isn t black mark on record of holy year intended year of peace , reconciliation? all, faithful children of church , see conditions in germany open eyes, fear worst prestige of church, if silence continues longer.

her letter received no answer, , not known whether pope ever read it. however, in 1937 pope issued encyclical written in german, mit brennender sorge (with burning anxiety), in criticized nazism, listed violations of concordat between germany , church of 1933, , condemned antisemitism.