The Roots of Moral Evil

In the realm of moral philosophy, Dietrich von Hildebrand's Ethics has long been considered a cornerstone text, thought to represent the whole of Hildebrand's profound insights on moral evil; yet, as Martin Cajthaml's latest scholarly endeavor reveals, there is much more to Hildebrand's discourse on moral evil than was previously known. In The Roots of Moral Evil, Cajthaml presents a collection of Hildebrand's unpublished manuscripts and typescripts that significantly expand our understanding of his views. "The result," writes John F. Crosby in the foreword to the book, "is as if a dialogue of Plato, long thought to be lost, has been found."

These newly discovered texts extend far beyond Hildebrand's already known contributions, presenting a profound examination of the fundamental sources of moral evil through Hildebrand's analysis of pride and concupiscence, augmented by insightful discussions on negative moral phenomena such as hatred, revenge, and laziness, delivered with Hildebrand's unmatched attention to moral detail.

While The Roots of Moral Evil is an indispensable resource for students and scholars of Hildebrand, the careful analyses of universally important moral phenomena make the book relevant to anyone interested in moral philosophy, particularly those within Catholic and Christian philosophical circles.

With extensive notes, index, and introductory material, this volume expertly guides readers through a newly revealed philosophical landscape, inviting them into a deeper engagement with one of the twentieth century's pivotal moral philosophers.