Von Hildebrand on the Roots of Moral Evil

In this article, I sketch, both in broad outlines and selected details, the new, richer picture of von Hildebrand’s account moral evil as it emerges from my discovery extensive materials Hildebrand´s Nachlass at Bavarian State Library Munich dealing with “roots evil”. These manuscripts typescripts, critical edition which will be published same time article or shortly thereafter, show that is much richer, more nuanced, complex than one we can glean final section Ethics, his magnum opus philosophy. also aim to situate analysis roots context Christian religious thought Western philosophical tradition. Von Hildebrand was, sure, an heir these traditions, despite thrust phenomenological method “bracket” all extant theories turn “back things themselves”. The mind-boggling feature tension between existential rootedness Catholic tradition methodological distance it, including Aristotelian–Thomist philosophy, following: On hand, he claims two ultimate are pride concupiscence, sounds perfectly traditionally Christian. other however, strips concepts most their traditional connotations endows them meaning they acquire analyses. intriguing result approach transformation theological concupiscence into descriptive categories encompass almost inexhaustible wealth various subspecies subordinate forms evil.