Dietrich von Hildebrand was a German Catholic philosopher and theologian whose work was highly regarded by Popes Pius XII, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI. He was known as a vocal critic of the changes in the Catholic Church following the Second Vatican Council, particularly the new liturgy, which he sharply condemned. His writings delve into ethics and philosophical reflection, establishing him as a significant figure in 20th-century Catholic thought. Pope Benedict XVI even proclaimed that his name would be most prominent among the figures of the 20th century when the intellectual history of the Catholic Church is written.
This slim volume can be read as a handbook for the restoration of truth to its rightful place at the throne of human reason. In the essays presented here, Dietrich von Hildebrand dismantles the various intellectual and political movements that have worked to undermine truth over the last century: relativism, skepticism, materialism, historicism, psychologism, Communism, and Nazism. He shows the utter insufficiency of such arguments and reveals their common root in the denial of God and people's attempts to be like gods themselves. To anyone who has looked at the modern world and wondered how did we get here? and how do we get out? this book shows the way.
Unlike most recent books about death, Jaws of Death: Gate of Heaven faithfully presents both faces of death—its grim horror and its potential for infinite light and joy. Dietrich von Hildebrand shows that although death never loses its character as a punishment for sin, its fearful darkness can be pierced by the radiant light of faith—faith in God, in eternal life, in the resurrection of the body, and in the certainty of reunion with our beloved dead—a reunion that will know no sunset. Because the jaws of death can be our gate to Heaven, the radiant aspect of death finally triumphs as the light of Christ dissipates the fearful dark clouds spread by death. Alice von Hildebrand | From the Foreword
Dietrich von Hildebrand's foundational work of moral philosophy, in which he develops his idea of value-response. This is an original and significant contribution to moral philosophy, and the most comprehensive and refined ethical work in the method of realist phenomenology.
The book offers a profound exploration of how society often replaces genuine Christian values with false idols, referred to as "graven images." Hildebrand's analysis delves into the implications of these substitutions, examining their impact on moral integrity and spiritual authenticity. Through insightful commentary, the author encourages readers to reflect on the true essence of Christian morality and the dangers of deviating from it in contemporary life.
The book presents a critique of "situation ethics," arguing against the idea that morality is contingent on individual circumstances. Through Hildebrand's insights, it reaffirms the existence of a consistent and universal moral framework that transcends situational variations. His work serves as a foundational text in the discourse on ethics, emphasizing the importance of immutable moral principles.
Focusing on the nature and significance of purity, this work provides a transformative exploration rather than a conventional guide on sexual ethics. Hildebrand shares profound insights on love, marriage, and sexuality, appealing to readers at any life stage. With an emphasis on open-mindedness, the book encourages deep reflection on the beauty of purity, making it a unique resource for personal growth and understanding.
"How does a person become Hitler's enemy number one? Not through espionage or violence, it turns out, but by striking fearlessly at the intellectual and spiritual roots of National Socialism. Dietrich von Hildebrand was a German Catholic thinker and teacher who devoted the full force of his intellect to breaking the deadly spell of Nazism that ensnared so many of his beloved countrymen. His story might well have been lost to us were it not for this memoir he penned in the last decades of his life at the request of his wife, Alice von Hildebrand. In My Battle Against Hitler, covering the years from 1921 to 1938, von Hildebrand tells of the scorn and ridicule he endured for sounding the alarm when many still viewed Hitler as a positive and inevitable force. He expresses the sorrow of having to leave behind his home, friends, and family in Germany to conduct his fight against the Nazis from Austria. He recounts how he defiantly challenged Nazism in the public square, prompting the German ambassador in Vienna to describe him to Hitler as 'the architect of the intellectual resistance in Austria.' And in the midst of all the danger he faced, he conveys his unwavering trust in God, even during his harrowing escape from Vienna and his desperate flight across Europe, with the Nazis always just one step behind. Dietrich von Hildebrand belongs to the very earliest anti-Nazi resistance. His public statements led the Nazis to blacklist him already in 1921, long before the horrors of the Third Reich and more than twenty-three years before the famous assassination attempt on Hitler in July 1944. His battle would culminate in the countless articles he published in Vienna, a selection of which are featured in this volume. 'It is an immense privilege,' writes editor John Henry Crosby, founder of the Hildebrand Project, 'to present to the world the shining witness of one man who risked everything to follow his conscience and stand in defiance of tyranny.'"-- Provided by publisher
