Robert Spaemann
Encyclopedia
Robert Spaemann is arguably the foremost Roman Catholic philosopher in Germany today.
Spaemann's focus is on Christian ethics
. He is known for his work in bioethics, ecology, and human rights. Although not yet widely translated into languages other than his native German, Spaemann is internationally known and his work is highly regarded by Pope Benedict XVI
.
in 1927, to Heinrich Spaemann and Ruth Krämer. His parents were originally radical atheists, but both entered the Catholic Church in 1930, and after his mother's early death his father was ordained a Catholic priest in 1942.
Spaemann studied at the University of Münster
, where, in 1962, he was awarded his Habilitation
. He was Professor of Philosophy at the Universities of Stuttgart (until 1968), Heidelberg
(until 1972), and Munich
, where he worked until he was made Emeritus Professor in 1992. He is also Honorary Professor at Salzburg University.
He participates in Pope Benedict's Schülerkreis, a private conference with Benedict convened since the late 1970s.
Spaemann's focus is on Christian ethics
Christian ethics
The first recorded meeting on the topic of Christian ethics, after Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, Great Commandment, and Great Commission , was the Council of Jerusalem , which is seen by most Christians as agreement that the New Covenant either abrogated or set aside at least some of the Old...
. He is known for his work in bioethics, ecology, and human rights. Although not yet widely translated into languages other than his native German, Spaemann is internationally known and his work is highly regarded by Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
.
Life
Robert Spaemann was born in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in 1927, to Heinrich Spaemann and Ruth Krämer. His parents were originally radical atheists, but both entered the Catholic Church in 1930, and after his mother's early death his father was ordained a Catholic priest in 1942.
Spaemann studied at the University of Münster
University of Münster
The University of Münster is a public university located in the city of Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany. The WWU is part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, a society of Germany's leading research universities...
, where, in 1962, he was awarded his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
. He was Professor of Philosophy at the Universities of Stuttgart (until 1968), Heidelberg
Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg
The Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg is a public research university located in Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. Founded in 1386, it is the oldest university in Germany and was the third university established in the Holy Roman Empire. Heidelberg has been a coeducational institution...
(until 1972), and Munich
Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich
The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich , commonly known as the University of Munich or LMU, is a university in Munich, Germany...
, where he worked until he was made Emeritus Professor in 1992. He is also Honorary Professor at Salzburg University.
Work
Spaemann's two most important works are Glück und Wohlwollen (Happiness and Benevolence, 1989) and Personen (Persons, 1996). In Happiness and Benevolence, Spaemann sets forth a thesis that happiness is derived from benevolent acting: that we are created by God as social beings to help one another find truth and meaning in an often confused and disordered world.He participates in Pope Benedict's Schülerkreis, a private conference with Benedict convened since the late 1970s.
Books Translated into English
- Basic Moral Concepts, trans. T.J. Armstrong. London: Routledge, 1990 (1982).
- Essays in Anthropology: Variations on a Theme, trans. Guido De Graaff and James Mumford. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2010 (1987).
- Happiness and Benevolence, trans. J. Alberg. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 2000 (1989).
- Persons: The Difference between "Someone" and "Something", trans. Oliver O’Donovan. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2006 (1996).
Books in German
- Rousseau – Mensch oder Bürger. Das Dilemma der Moderne. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-608-94245-3
- Der letzte Gottesbeweis. Pattloch Verlag 2007, ISBN 978-3-629-02178-6
- Das unsterbliche Gerücht. Die Frage nach Gott und der Aberglaube der Moderne. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-608-94452-4. Neuausgabe als: Natürliche Ziele. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-608-94121-5
- Grenzen. Zur ethischen Dimension des Handelns. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-608-91027-1
- Der Ursprung der Soziologie aus dem Geist der Restauration. Studien über Louise-Gabriel de Bonald. Kösel, München 1959; 2. A. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-608-91921-X
- Töten oder sterben lassen? Worum es in der Euthanasiedebatte geht (mit Thomas Fuchs). Herder Verlag 1997
- Personen. Versuche über den Unterschied zwischen „etwas“ und „jemand“. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1996, ISBN 3-608-91813-2
- Zur kirchlichen Erbsündenlehre. Stellungnahmen zu einer brennenden Frage (mit Albert Görres, Christoph Schönborn). (Sammlung Kriterien 87), Johannes Verlag Einsiedeln Freiburg 1994, ISBN 3-89411-303-0
- Reflexion und Spontanität. Studien über Fénelon. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1963; 2. A. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1990, ISBN 3-608-91334-3
- Glück und Wohlwollen. Versuch über Ethik. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1989, ISBN 3-608-91556-7
- Das Natürliche und Vernünftige. Aufsätze zur Anthropologie. Piper Verlag (Serie Piper 702), München 1987, 3-492-10702-8
- Philosophische Essays. Reclam (UB 7961), Stuttgart 1983; 2. erw. A. ebd. 1994, ISBN 3-15-007961-6
- Moralische Grundbegriffe. Beck Verlag (Beck’sche Reihe 256), München 1982, ISBN 3-406-45442-9
- Rousseau – Bürger ohne Vaterland. Von der Polis zur Natur. Piper Verlag, München 1980, ISBN 3-492-10579-3
- Einsprüche. Christliche Reden. Johannes Verlag Einsiedeln Freiburg 1977, ISBN 3-265-10195-9
- Die Frage Wozu? Geschichte und Wiederentdeckung des teleologischen Denkens (mit Reinhard Löw). Piper (Serie Piper 748), München 1981
- Zur Kritik der politischen Utopie. Zehn Kapitel politischer Philosophie. Klett-Cotta, Stuttgart 1977, ISBN 3-12-910110-1
External Links
- Holger Zaborowski's Robert Spaemann's Philosophy of the Human Person: Nature, Freedom, and the Critique of Modernity, from Oxford University Press (2010).
- Spaemann speaks on "Paradoxes of Love" at the Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project's Conference in Rome, May 28, 2010
- Christoph Zimmer: Spaemanns Homilie und ihr letzter Gottesbeweis. 2011