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The Heart, Source of Christian Affectivity
This new edition of The Heart (out of print for nearly 30 years) is the flagship volume in a series of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s works to be published by St. Augustine’s Press in collaboration with the Dietrich von Hildebrand Legacy Project. Founded in 2004, the Legacy Project exists in the first place to translate the many German writings of von Hildebrand into English.
While many revere von Hildebrand as a religious author, few realize that he was a philosopher of great stature and importance. Those who knew von Hildebrand as philosopher held him in the highest esteem. Louis Bouyer, for example, once said that “von Hildebrand was the most important Catholic philosopher in Europe between the two world wars.” Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger expressed even greater esteem when he said: “I am personally convinced that, when, at some time in the future, the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time.”
The Heart is an accessible yet important philosophical contribution to the understanding of the human person. In this work von Hildebrand is concerned with rehabilitating the affective life of the human person. He thinks that for too long philosophers have held it in suspicion and thought of it as embedded in the body and hence as being much inferior to intellect and will. In reality, he argues, the heart, the center of affectivity, has many different levels, including an eminently personal level; at this level affectivity is just as important a form of personal life as intellect and will. Von Hildebrand develops the idea that properly personal affectivity, far than tending away from an objective relation to being, is in fact one major way in which we transcend ourselves and give being its due. Von Hildebrand also developed the important idea that the heart “in many respects is more the real self of the person than his intellect or will.”
At the same time, the author shows full realism about the possible deformities of affective life; he offers rich analyses of what he calls affective atrophy and affective hypertrophy. The second half of The Heart offers a remarkable analysis of the affectivity of the God-Man.
While many revere von Hildebrand as a religious author, few realize that he was a philosopher of great stature and importance. Those who knew von Hildebrand as philosopher held him in the highest esteem. Louis Bouyer, for example, once said that “von Hildebrand was the most important Catholic philosopher in Europe between the two world wars.” Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger expressed even greater esteem when he said: “I am personally convinced that, when, at some time in the future, the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time.”
The Heart is an accessible yet important philosophical contribution to the understanding of the human person. In this work von Hildebrand is concerned with rehabilitating the affective life of the human person. He thinks that for too long philosophers have held it in suspicion and thought of it as embedded in the body and hence as being much inferior to intellect and will. In reality, he argues, the heart, the center of affectivity, has many different levels, including an eminently personal level; at this level affectivity is just as important a form of personal life as intellect and will. Von Hildebrand develops the idea that properly personal affectivity, far than tending away from an objective relation to being, is in fact one major way in which we transcend ourselves and give being its due. Von Hildebrand also developed the important idea that the heart “in many respects is more the real self of the person than his intellect or will.”
At the same time, the author shows full realism about the possible deformities of affective life; he offers rich analyses of what he calls affective atrophy and affective hypertrophy. The second half of The Heart offers a remarkable analysis of the affectivity of the God-Man.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1977
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About the author
Dietrich von Hildebrand
81 books202 followersDietrich von Hildebrand was a German Catholic philosopher and theologian who was called (informally) by Pope Pius XII "the 20th Century Doctor of the Church."
Pope John Paul II greatly admired the work of von Hildebrand, remarking once to von Hildebrand's widow, Alice von Hildebrand, "Your husband is one of the great ethicists of the twentieth century." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has a particular admiration and regard for Dietrich von Hildebrand, whom he already knew as a young priest in Munich. In fact, as young Fr. Ratzinger, he even served as an assistant pastor in the church of St. Georg in Munich, which von Hildebrand frequented in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also in St. Georg that Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand were married.
The degree of Pope Benedict's esteem is expressed in one of his statements about von Hildebrand, "When the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time." Von Hildebrand was a vocal critic of the changes in the church brought by the Second Vatican Council. He especially resented the new liturgy. Of it he said "Truly, if one of the devils in C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters had been entrusted with the ruin of the liturgy, he could not have done it better."
Von Hildebrand died in New Rochelle, New York, in 1977.
Pope John Paul II greatly admired the work of von Hildebrand, remarking once to von Hildebrand's widow, Alice von Hildebrand, "Your husband is one of the great ethicists of the twentieth century." Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has a particular admiration and regard for Dietrich von Hildebrand, whom he already knew as a young priest in Munich. In fact, as young Fr. Ratzinger, he even served as an assistant pastor in the church of St. Georg in Munich, which von Hildebrand frequented in the 1950s and 1960s. It was also in St. Georg that Dietrich and Alice von Hildebrand were married.
The degree of Pope Benedict's esteem is expressed in one of his statements about von Hildebrand, "When the intellectual history of the Catholic Church in the twentieth century is written, the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand will be most prominent among the figures of our time." Von Hildebrand was a vocal critic of the changes in the church brought by the Second Vatican Council. He especially resented the new liturgy. Of it he said "Truly, if one of the devils in C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters had been entrusted with the ruin of the liturgy, he could not have done it better."
Von Hildebrand died in New Rochelle, New York, in 1977.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 19, 2018
I would recommend starting this book by reading the appendix on page 127 where von Hildebrand gives a concise thesis for this work. One summary of the task of his book is found on page 134:
“In order to delve deeper into the mystery of the Sacred Heart and to see its glory in its proper light, in order to grasp the specific aspect of the Incarnation which shines forth in the Sacred Heart, we must first discover what the true nature of the heart is. If we are to understand the transformation to which our hearts are called, if we are to seize the full impact of the prayer ‘Make our hearts like unto thine’ we must first discover the meaning and the role of the heart in man. In short, we cannot understand the devotion to the Sacred Heart in its true meaning, or in its specific mission to melt our hearts, unless we first discover the true nature of the heart, and the grandeur and glory of true affectivity.”
“In order to delve deeper into the mystery of the Sacred Heart and to see its glory in its proper light, in order to grasp the specific aspect of the Incarnation which shines forth in the Sacred Heart, we must first discover what the true nature of the heart is. If we are to understand the transformation to which our hearts are called, if we are to seize the full impact of the prayer ‘Make our hearts like unto thine’ we must first discover the meaning and the role of the heart in man. In short, we cannot understand the devotion to the Sacred Heart in its true meaning, or in its specific mission to melt our hearts, unless we first discover the true nature of the heart, and the grandeur and glory of true affectivity.”
July 10, 2020
Purtroppo non mi risulta esistere un'edizione italiana. Dovendo scegliere tra l'originale in inglese che non avevo e la traduzione spagnola che invece avevo... ho optato per il facile.
La prima parte, con riflessioni filosofiche sull'affettività, e la terza sulla trasformazione del cuore in Cristo, sono dei capolavori. Soprattutto quest'ultima la consiglio vivamente.
La seconda parte, in cui medita passi del Vangelo alla scoperta del cuore di Gesù, a parte qualche luce occasioale, non mi ha del tutto preso. Per questo lascio 4 stelle (sarebbe un 4,5).
L'ho trovato spesso citato dai fautori di un ritorno alle emozioni. Senz'altro stigmatizza l'errore ricorrente nella Chiesa di demonizzare i sentimenti e ritenere che la fede riguardi solo l'intelletto e la volontà. Però mette anche bene in guardia dalla "ipertrofia del cuore" e da un lasciarsi trascinare dalle emozioni che non ha molto a che vedere con l'ordine e l'intensità dei sentimenti di Gesù.
La prima parte, con riflessioni filosofiche sull'affettività, e la terza sulla trasformazione del cuore in Cristo, sono dei capolavori. Soprattutto quest'ultima la consiglio vivamente.
La seconda parte, in cui medita passi del Vangelo alla scoperta del cuore di Gesù, a parte qualche luce occasioale, non mi ha del tutto preso. Per questo lascio 4 stelle (sarebbe un 4,5).
L'ho trovato spesso citato dai fautori di un ritorno alle emozioni. Senz'altro stigmatizza l'errore ricorrente nella Chiesa di demonizzare i sentimenti e ritenere che la fede riguardi solo l'intelletto e la volontà. Però mette anche bene in guardia dalla "ipertrofia del cuore" e da un lasciarsi trascinare dalle emozioni che non ha molto a che vedere con l'ordine e l'intensità dei sentimenti di Gesù.
November 1, 2022
What this work does well, combining my experience of therapy in seminary with the deep theological and moral truths of our faith. Rooting the affections (emotions) deep in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
The first 1/3 is difficult to move through, very heavy in philosophy. In my opinion the fruit the later 1/3 of the book, is well worth the work.
The first 1/3 is difficult to move through, very heavy in philosophy. In my opinion the fruit the later 1/3 of the book, is well worth the work.
October 24, 2015
Dietrich von Hildebrand ‘s work compliments the reader by not aiming for the lowest common denominator. In my opinion, far too many modern theological works that are supposed be for adults seem to be written for 3rd graders. A number of them are glorified picture books. Hildebrand uses scientific terminology and psychological explanations to warn society against focusing only on the intellect and will of human beings, while ignoring the heart, along with a person’s spirituality. If you are bored with books that suffer from oversimplification, I highly recommend this work.
July 7, 2019
An incredible analysis of the role that affectivity plays in the human soul and how this is expressed and magnified through devotion to the Sacred Heart. The human soul is comprised of intellect, will, and affection. All of which each direct the individual in obedience to God's will.
August 25, 2022
One of Dietrich von Hildebrand’s most unique contributions to philosophy, his discussion of the Heart is meant as a definitive rehabilitation of the affective sphere which has been neglected for so long by innumerable generations of philosophers. He approaches the subject matter in his typical negative philosophical approach of spending a handful of chapters on dispelling any false notion of affectivity or simply the various ways the affective sphere is absent such as pure passion and heartlessness. The real focal point of his discussion, however, comes in the last two sections which takes the more philosophical nature of the first section and applies it to the Sacred Heart of Christ. By elucidating the incomparable tenderness, charity, and gentleness of Christ’s Heart as a central theme in the Passion and the broader Christian theological conversation, he aims to cement the Heart as something even Christ took seriously above all. My one gripe with the section is that, at times, Hildebrand doesn’t make clear connections between the two sections, leaving them feeling a bit disjointed. It is reconciled a bit in the final section, The Human Heart Transformed, but the two distinct conversations on the philosophical nature of the Heart and the theological significance of the Sacred Heart are never wrapped up in the same succinct way that he does in Ethics.
That being said, the book itself is still wonderful and one of the central texts of Hildebrand’s canon that helps elucidate the rest of his vast corpus of writings! I highly recommend it, especially for those who are new to DvH!
That being said, the book itself is still wonderful and one of the central texts of Hildebrand’s canon that helps elucidate the rest of his vast corpus of writings! I highly recommend it, especially for those who are new to DvH!
July 17, 2017
Really interesting. Von Hildebrand puts the heart on the same level as the intellect and the will, something that Thomas Aquinas overlooks when he speaks about the passions. (Awesome! To advance Thomas Aquinas's philosophy is an incredible accomplishment!) The heart is part of the moral sphere; it directs appropriate emotional responses: joy at seeing something beautiful, sadness at tragedy, etc. as opposed to inappropriate responses such as hardness of heart, or always intellectually analyzing every experience, or thinking that love is never saying no. It is different from sentimentality (78). An affective response cannot be separated from the object that engendered it. We cannot evaluate happiness when it is separated from what made us happy. Happiness at some tragic event is disordered; happiness at a at a good deed done out of love is ordered correctly (29). True objectivity also includes the appropriate affective response to the object; it is not cold and unfeeling (82).
January 21, 2025
I enjoyed this book, but it is based on a really sweeping premise that the entire tradition of Western philosophy has neglected the heart, as if this tradition were somehow a dry analytic one for its entire history. I don't think this is true. Treating the understanding as though it is the highest faculty does not preclude valuing the heart.
Also, I think Von Hildebrand is unfair to the Stoics. The Stoics do believe in the intentionality of the emotions. Emotions are judgments about the world. I think the issue is a reduction of emotions in Stoicism to intellectually graspable propositions. Von Hildebrand presents a caricature of Stoics as silencing the heart and banning affectivity.
It is also not clear what problem Von Hildebrand is trying to address. He mentions only briefly a movement in art promoting a New Objectivity, and just a general tendency to see emotions and objectivity as dichotomous. But, I would like specific authors cited and specific movements.
Also, I think Von Hildebrand is unfair to the Stoics. The Stoics do believe in the intentionality of the emotions. Emotions are judgments about the world. I think the issue is a reduction of emotions in Stoicism to intellectually graspable propositions. Von Hildebrand presents a caricature of Stoics as silencing the heart and banning affectivity.
It is also not clear what problem Von Hildebrand is trying to address. He mentions only briefly a movement in art promoting a New Objectivity, and just a general tendency to see emotions and objectivity as dichotomous. But, I would like specific authors cited and specific movements.
January 15, 2018
What even is this book!? Starting with a phenomenological account of the human heart Dietrich is thorough and deft, analyzing the emotional life of man. He then moves on to an analysis of aspects of the Sacred Heart, and finally into an essay on the transformation of the heart of man into the image of Christs' and an attempt to answer the questions such a thing would entail.
It is a very good book, don't get me wrong, but it seemed to be unclear as to whether it was a book of philosophy or popular theology. As such it was cool, but I felt a bit disjointed by it.
Over all it feels like a very necessary work, it would be interesting though to see a book which incorporated the psychological literature on the emotions, and which spent more time doing a phenomenological analysis. It is in many ways a great entry way into the more difficult work "love and responsibility."
It is a very good book, don't get me wrong, but it seemed to be unclear as to whether it was a book of philosophy or popular theology. As such it was cool, but I felt a bit disjointed by it.
Over all it feels like a very necessary work, it would be interesting though to see a book which incorporated the psychological literature on the emotions, and which spent more time doing a phenomenological analysis. It is in many ways a great entry way into the more difficult work "love and responsibility."
April 20, 2022
¡De mis lecturas favoritas!
En la primera parte, se hace una presentación antropológica del corazón de hombre. Gracias al cual comprendí mejor el valor de los afectos; el corazón, la inteligencia y la voluntad tienen igual importancia.
Después se hace un análisis del corazón de Jesús, trayendo a colación pasajes del Evangelio donde se expresa la ternura de Cristo.
Finalmente, llega a la conclusión de que para alcanzar su plenitud, el corazón del cristiano deberá buscar asemejarse al espíritu del corazón de Jesús.
Lo recomiendo mucho si te interesan esos temas. Como una persona más flemática que apasionada, me sirvió mucho. Aunque justamente a los apasionados también les será muy útil ya que con este libro se entiende cómo lograr un balance entre el corazón, la inteligencia y la voluntad sin que predomine uno sobre los otros.
En la primera parte, se hace una presentación antropológica del corazón de hombre. Gracias al cual comprendí mejor el valor de los afectos; el corazón, la inteligencia y la voluntad tienen igual importancia.
Después se hace un análisis del corazón de Jesús, trayendo a colación pasajes del Evangelio donde se expresa la ternura de Cristo.
Finalmente, llega a la conclusión de que para alcanzar su plenitud, el corazón del cristiano deberá buscar asemejarse al espíritu del corazón de Jesús.
Lo recomiendo mucho si te interesan esos temas. Como una persona más flemática que apasionada, me sirvió mucho. Aunque justamente a los apasionados también les será muy útil ya que con este libro se entiende cómo lograr un balance entre el corazón, la inteligencia y la voluntad sin que predomine uno sobre los otros.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2021
Genial libro. La primera parte, la más extensa, es un tratado sobre los afectos humanos, desde los más corporales hasta los más profundos espiritualmente. La segunda parte hace un estudio teológico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. Y la tercera parte habla de la transformación del corazón humano gracias a Jesucristo, a lo que deberíamos aspirar todos los cristianos.
Sin duda una excelente obra porque nos hace reflexionar acerca de la profundidad que tiene nuestro corazón en la estructura de las facultades humanas y especialmente en el ámbito religioso. Ayuda a reconocer vicios que podemos tener, ya sea dándole demasiado peso a los afectos o demasiado poco, lo que puede conllevar muchas reflexiones sobre uno mismo y sobre la persona humana como un ser vulnerable.
Sin duda una excelente obra porque nos hace reflexionar acerca de la profundidad que tiene nuestro corazón en la estructura de las facultades humanas y especialmente en el ámbito religioso. Ayuda a reconocer vicios que podemos tener, ya sea dándole demasiado peso a los afectos o demasiado poco, lo que puede conllevar muchas reflexiones sobre uno mismo y sobre la persona humana como un ser vulnerable.
August 26, 2021
Esta reflexión sobre la afectividad y su relación con la voluntad se divide en dos partes. En la primera, Von Hildebrand analiza el corazón humano y las distintas casuísticas que se presentan en el hombre: atrofia afectiva, hipertrofia, dureza de corazón, etc. Se clasifican las pasiones y se defiende que una religiosidad bien entendida no pasa por silenciar la voz de los sentimientos. La segunda parte es una reflexión sobre la Devoción al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús a través de meditaciones de textos de los Evangelios, en los que Jesús nos revela su interior. Es muy útil para reflexionar y para orar. Concluye el libro con dos breves capítulos acerca de la transformación del corazón humano a la luz de Cristo.
July 10, 2021
Frente a una sociedad que busca desencarnar nuestros anhelos más humanos y ridiculiza de sentimentalismo la nobleza del corazón o la conmoción a las lágrimas como debilidad, hace falta volver a ver el Corazón de Cristo y en su humanidad entender, vivir, profundizar y reverenciar los anhelos que nos invita a imitar, con humildad pero con magnanimidad también.
February 16, 2022
I enjoyed this read, but not as much as I would have liked. The first of the three parts I found to be the most interesting. It's a good application of the idea of intentionality in regard to our affections. von Hildebrand provides an account for establishing the significance and objectivity of the affective sphere of the human person.
December 17, 2024
Von Hildebrand gives here a philosophical and spiritual look at the heart in this short work. It wasn’t my favorite by him, but I appreciated the way he was able to show the importance of his philosophical thought in the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That last part was my favorite!
January 28, 2025
The book offers a deep look into the hearts of us all, but a great reflection on the Sacred Heart. It shows the need for us to again put the heart as the center of our lives and for a devotion to the Sacred Heart.
June 14, 2021
An in-depth exploration into the affective place of the heart in life with particular reference to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
June 23, 2022
Amazing.
February 10, 2023
Wonderful analysis of the heart. I personally found the beginning tough to understand but it got easier with the next couple chapters.
July 5, 2025
Will read this book with my children…
September 23, 2009
This book, by a Catholic philosopher, examines the heart and the affections from a Christian and philosophical perspective. The author is mainly interested in explaining what the heart is, how it is related to the emotions, and how the heart can go wrong (both by being too emotional and by becoming hardened). He then discusses Jesus' heart, and explains how the Christian should form his or her heart while following Jesus. He is interested to explain how the heart should relate to the will and the intellect.
The writing style was heavy, with a lot of philosophical language. This book will be hard to understand completely on the first reading. However, the author is very engaging, and has obviously thought through and researched the subject deeply. This is the best explanation I've ever seen of the difference between a Christian's heart and his or her emotions.
The writing style was heavy, with a lot of philosophical language. This book will be hard to understand completely on the first reading. However, the author is very engaging, and has obviously thought through and researched the subject deeply. This is the best explanation I've ever seen of the difference between a Christian's heart and his or her emotions.
June 10, 2022
Se supone que es antropología y un análisis de los sentimientos, pero a mí me ha parecido más un ensayo teológico. Eso sí, suelta algunas verdades como puños.
September 3, 2025
Mi libro del TFM. Lo habré leído y releído y vuelto a leer tantas veces. Tiene unas intuiciones potentísimas y me gusta de von Hildebrand que hace filosofía que concuerda con la realidad. Además se atreve a criticar la dupla intelecto-voluntad. Mis dieces.
December 4, 2010
A tour de force, overflowing with beautiful riches garbed in simple, elegant prose illustrating the importance of the heart.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews