Q0544
“Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui generis.” — Edith Stein (On the Problem of Empathy (1917))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: On the Problem of Empathy (1917). Theme: love.
English
Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui generis.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to On the Problem of Empathy (1917) and files it under Phenomenology. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Edith Stein
Edith Stein (1891–1942), also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was a German phenomenologist who studied with Husserl and wrote On the Problem of Empathy.
How to read this passage
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, otherness, self.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- Otherness
- Otherness appears in this archive as a live philosophical concern—not a slogan. These verified English passages show how thinkers treat otherness as a problem of judgment, practice, or explanation.
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Edith Stein. (n.d.). Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui generis. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0544
MLA: Edith Stein. “Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0544.
Chicago: Edith Stein. “Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0544.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Empathy is a kind of experiential act sui…”?
The passage is attributed to Edith Stein, On the Problem of Empathy (1917). The archive attributes this English wording to On the Problem of Empathy (1917) and files it under Phenomenology. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Edith Stein mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, otherness, self.