The initial publication of The Nature of Moral Action in 1916 marked the formal entry of Dietrich von Hildebrand into the academic study of ethics. Born in Florence in 1889, he eventually established himself as a prominent German philosopher, theologian, and resistance fighter whose intellectual output spanned multiple fields including sociology, metaphysics, and philosophical anthropology throughout the twentieth century.
Academic Formation and Early Philosophical Development
Raised in a secular household in Florence, he moved to Munich at fifteen before enrolling at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. He later attended the University of Göttingen, where he completed his doctorate under Edmund Husserl and Adolf Reinach. His work aligned with realist phenomenology, a movement that sought direct, intuitive perception of real beings. Through his engagement with Max Scheler, he converted to Catholicism in 1914, an event that deeply influenced his subsequent investigations into ethics and the nature of moral values.
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Beginning in 1921, he publicly criticized National Socialism, identifying the movement as anti-Christian. Following the rise of Hitler in 1933, he fled Germany for Italy and then Vienna. With the support of Chancellor Engelbert Dollfuss, he founded the anti-Nazi weekly paper Der Christliche Ständestaat. Following the annexation of Austria in 1938, he became a primary target of the Gestapo, forcing his relocation through Switzerland, France, Portugal, and finally to New York City in 1940.
Professional Life and Later Scholarly Work
Upon arriving in New York City in 1940, he joined the faculty at Fordham University. His academic career involved extensive writing, producing over 30 books in German and English. After retiring from teaching in 1960, he focused on theological matters and critiques regarding the implementation of the Second Vatican Council. A founder of Una Voce America, he advocated for the preservation of the Tridentine Mass in Ecclesiastical Latin until his death in 1977.
Fast facts
- Born: 1889, Florence
- Died: 1977, New York City
- Primary Fields: Ethics, Sociology, Catholic Philosophy
- Education: University of Göttingen, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
- Teaching Appointments: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Fordham University
- Languages: German, English
- Notable Role: Resistance fighter against Nazism
Questions readers ask
What was the core of his philosophical method?
He practiced realist phenomenology, which prioritized direct, intuitive perception of reality over transcendental idealism.
Why was he forced to leave Europe?
His vocal opposition to Nazism made him a primary target of the Gestapo, particularly after the annexation of Austria in 1938.
Achievements
- Held posts at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München and Fordham University
- Fields: Catholic philosophy, sociology and ethics
