Edith Stein und Hedwig Conrad-Martius: eine Denk-Gemeinschaft

Summary

Stein and Conrad-Martius, although both pupils of Husserl, met each other not before 1920 when they edited a few texts by Adolf Reinach, their common teacher, in memory of his early death as soldier in 1917. Conrad-Martius was an important thinker in natural philosophy, mainly based on Aristotle, but with a vivid interest in modern physics and biology, while Stein concentrated on anthropology, in transcendence to a religious philosophy. Writing her opus magnum „Finite and Eternal Being“ in 1936/37, prepared by „Potence and Act“, the exchange of both philosophers became an intensive one. Both were equally inspired by as well an acknowledgment as a critics of Heideggers „Time and Being“ (1927).
Apart from that intellectual exchange there grew a real friendship, beginning in 1921 when both of them were in a religious crisis. It was in Conrad-Martius’ house in Berzabern where Edith Stein decided to get baptized as a catholic(1.1.1922), and to become a cormelite (although it took some time); Conrad-Martius becoming her god-mother. In 1960 Conrad-Martius edited the letters  and postcards by Edith Stein while there was only one postcard left by herself to her great friend.