Conclusion

A brief reflection on what I have attempted to accomplish in this exploration of Edith Stein’s philosophy of spirit. I have argued that is the nature of spirit to express itself, and the nature of the human person, as a spiritual being, to unfold out from oneself and reveal oneself through the expression of spirit. Spiritual participation with other human persons in community finds its fullness in the sort of community in which each member, in giving herself in spiritual expression to the whole of the community, is nevertheless at the same time affirmed in her personal self, and in giving more fully of herself is thereby more fully open to receiving the self-expression and self-gift of the other personal selves in community with her. In other words, the most authentically human community is a community of love, which is in turn an image of a relationship of divine love.