Person, Formation, and Values: A Phenomenological Reflection Based on Edith Stein

Abstract

The concept of the person occupies a central place in the work of Edith Stein, insofar as she conceives the human being as a spiritual, psychic, and corporeal unity. However, within the framework of phenomenological anthropology, Stein also affirms that the person is a being in formation, called to shape and constitute themselves. The thesis we propose to defend is that the encounter with and openness to the world of values is essential for the formative process of the human person. On the one hand, the person is in themselves a value; on the other hand, it is through their openness to values that they come to constitute themselves and relate meaningfully to others. This process is both formative and self-formative. Therefore, our objective is to inquire into the relationships between person, formation, and values. We maintain that the anthropological and pedagogical perspective developed by the German philosopher opens the possibility for genuine interpersonal encounters and contributes to the cultivation of communal bonds, which are indispensable in contemporary society.