Tracing Paths: Edith Stein's Pedagogical Proposal as a Consequence of her Comprehensive Anthropology

Abstract

Edith Stein conceives of pedagogy taking into account its anthropological and ethical foundations. Her desire to incarnate philosophy in her personal reality led her to dedicate herself fruitfully to education in the Catholic sphere. As a consequence, a pedagogy of the same nature emerges from the integral anthropology of Edith Stein. Stein considers that the mission of education is to lead man to the integral development of the potencies of understanding, affection (Gemüt) and will, strengthening each one in the proper way, on the basis of an education of the body. Stein emphasizes that education must be exercised without losing sight of the fact that the human being awakens to spiritual freedom to gain autonomy; thanks to his free will, he can work on his formation, he can freely exercise his forces, he can open himself up to educational influences or close himself to them. Thus, on the basis of nature and human freedom, the objective of a wholesome educational task consists in leading the individual to the full personal development of themselves.