Introduction

This chapter introduces the inquiry into Edith Stein’s notion of spirit (Geist) and the role that it plays in her philosophical anthropology as well as her understanding of intersubjectivity and community. I argue that the key to understanding Stein’s notion of spirit is to understand spirit as expressive, and in so doing to recognize expression (or “going out from oneself”) as a fundamental characteristic of the human person. Although she draws from and synthesizes the ideas of a number of thinkers, Stein’s approach is distinctive and, I argue, uniquely suited to comprehensively addressing these questions. This introductory chapter asserts the value and importance of this inquiry and lays out the structure of my argument.