Pronunciation: [ˈiːdɪθ stˈa͡ɪn] (IPA) 
Edith Stein was a philosopher and Catholic nun who lived in the early 20th century. The spelling of her name, "Edith Stein," is pronounced with two syllables. The first syllable is pronounced "Eh-dith," with the vowel sound "eh" as in "bed." The second syllable is pronounced "stine," with the vowel sound "i" as in "eye" and the consonants "st" as in "stop" and "n" as in "no." The IPA phonetic notation is /ˈɛdɪθ staɪn/.
Edith Stein was a German philosopher, writer, and Jewish convert to Catholicism who lived from 1891 to 1942. She is also known by her religious name, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. Stein was born into a Jewish family but later became attracted to Christianity, leading her to convert to Catholicism in 1922. Throughout her life, she expressed a deep interest in the intersection of philosophy and theology.
As a philosopher, Stein made significant contributions to phenomenology, a branch of philosophy that focuses on the study of consciousness and perception. She was a student of Edmund Husserl, the founder of phenomenology, and wrote extensively on the topics of empathy, emotions, and the human person. Her work aimed to bridge the gap between philosophy and theology in order to provide a holistic understanding of human existence.
Stein’s life took a tragic turn with the rise of Nazism in Germany. As a Jew and a Catholic nun, she faced persecution and was eventually arrested by the Nazis in 1942. She died in the Auschwitz concentration camp.
In recent years, Edith Stein has been recognized for her contributions to philosophy, theology, and her courage in the face of persecution. She was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1998 and is celebrated as a martyr and a model of faith and intellectual rigor. Her writings continue to inspire scholars and theologians interested in the dialogue between philosophy and spirituality.
