1001Philosophers

Robert Spaemann 1927 – 2018

Robert Spaemann (1927 – 2018) was a German philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Christian Philosophy and Continental Philosophy.

Robert Spaemann was a German Catholic philosopher, professor at the University of Munich, and one of the most influential conservative voices in late-twentieth-century German philosophy. Persons: The Difference Between Someone and Something defended a strong thesis of personal identity, in which to be a person is to be the kind of being to whom moral respect is owed simply for being who one is. Happiness and Benevolence offered a sustained Aristotelian-Christian alternative to utilitarian ethics, while his many essays on bioethics, politics, and theology engaged the questions of his day from a position of unembarrassed natural law.

Key facts

Nationality
German
Era
Contemporary
Movements
Christian Philosophy, Continental Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Robert Spaemann:

    “A person is the kind of being to whom respect is owed for being who he is.”

  • Attributed to Robert Spaemann:

    “Happiness is the form a benevolent life takes in those who are wise enough to recognize it.”

  • Attributed to Robert Spaemann:

    “Nature is not a constraint on freedom; it is its presupposition.”

  • Attributed to Robert Spaemann:

    “What we owe each other is rooted in what each of us is.”

  • Attributed to Robert Spaemann:

    “Theology and philosophy are not rivals; they are companions in the same inquiry.”

Frequently asked about Robert Spaemann

When did Robert Spaemann live?
Robert Spaemann was born in 1927 and died in 2018.
Where was Robert Spaemann from?
Robert Spaemann was a German philosopher of the Contemporary era.
What philosophical movements is Robert Spaemann associated with?
Robert Spaemann was associated with Christian Philosophy and Continental Philosophy.
What was Robert Spaemann known for?
Robert Spaemann was a German Catholic philosopher, professor at the University of Munich, and one of the most influential conservative voices in late-twentieth-century German philosophy.
How many quotes are attributed to Robert Spaemann?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Robert Spaemann in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.