Authentic Freedom and Happiness: An Interpretation of the Ethics of Edith Stein

This article seeks to advance a way of being in the world of the hu- man person that encompasses both the truest sense of freedom of choice and its result, namely, happiness. Starting from the proposal of a relational ethics in Stein I intend to show how, in the authentic relationship through Einfühlung, it is possible to arrive at the “revelation” of what is deeper in ourselves, i.e., the personal core that characterizes us as unique and unrepeatable entities. The growth and development of our personalities occurs coherently with who we are. But the “choice” to adhere to the authenticity of a deep self is a choice of freedom that also leads one to harmony, to the acceptance of one’s �initude and weaknesses, and thus to living well with who one “really” is. This result coincides with being hap- py.