Dr Mette Lebech
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Philosophy, Faculty of Arts and Humanities
Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor
Arts and Humanities Faculty Secretary
Biography
Mette Lebech holds her degrees from the Universities of Copenhagen, Louvain-la-neuve and Leuven. She has taught in Maynooth University since 1998 and before that for 3 years at the University of Copenhagen, where she also was a member of the Centre for Ethics and Law. She has worked principally on the themes of Human Dignity and the Philosophy of Edith Stein. She is past founding President of the International Association for the Study of the Philosophy of Edith Stein (IASPES) and Editor of Edith Stein Studies, a book series with Rowman and Littlefield.
Research Interests
My interest in the philosophy of human dignity centres on the phenomenology of human dignity and its importance for ethics, bioethics, law, human rights, politics, education and nursing. I am also, however, interested in the ontology and metaphysics of human dignity underpinning these disciplines and in the history of the conceptualisation of human dignity as it emerges from the study of the evolution of those disciplines and the institutions in which they are and were practiced.
The philosophy of Edith Stein has aided me in conceptualising human dignity and has in so doing convinced me of its applicability in many fields where other less socially aware versions of phenomenology falters. Her contribution to the phenomenology of the social world, and to the understanding of how valuation contribute to the constitution of social reality, deeply fascinate me as does her understanding of how phenomenology, ontology and metaphysics relate.
The discipline and methodology of phenomenology and its relationship with ontology and metaphysics as well as phenomenology's applicability and usefulness in the disciplines of the humanities, the social sciences, and psychology, are as a consequence also of great interest to me.
Should you be interested in conducting research in any of these areas, please contact me.
The philosophy of Edith Stein has aided me in conceptualising human dignity and has in so doing convinced me of its applicability in many fields where other less socially aware versions of phenomenology falters. Her contribution to the phenomenology of the social world, and to the understanding of how valuation contribute to the constitution of social reality, deeply fascinate me as does her understanding of how phenomenology, ontology and metaphysics relate.
The discipline and methodology of phenomenology and its relationship with ontology and metaphysics as well as phenomenology's applicability and usefulness in the disciplines of the humanities, the social sciences, and psychology, are as a consequence also of great interest to me.
Should you be interested in conducting research in any of these areas, please contact me.
Book
Year | Publication | |
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2019 | Lebech M. (2019) European sources of human dignity: A commented anthology. [DOI] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. and Smith, J. (transl.) (2017) Adolf Reinach: Three Texts on Ethics. Munich: Philosophia Verlag. | |
2015 | Lebech M. (2015) The Philosophy of Edith Stein: From Phenomenology to Metaphysics. Bern etc: Peter Lang. [DOI] | |
2009 | Lebech, M. (2009) On the Problem of Human Dignity. A Hermeneutical and Phenomenological Investigation. Würzburg: Könighausen und Neumann. | |
1997 | Lebech, M. with Rendtorff, J. and Kemp, P. (1997) Den Bioetiske Vending. København: Spektrum. |
Edited Book
Book Chapter
Year | Publication | |
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2021 | Mette Lebech (2021) 'Stein's Contribution to the Phenomenological Foundation of the Human Sciences' In: Edith Stein's Itinerary. Phenomenology, Christian Philosophy, and Carmelite Spirituality. Münster : Aschendorf. | |
2021 | Lebech, M. (2021) 'The Presence of Kant in Stein' In: Palgrave Handbook of German Idealism and Phenomenology. Cham : Palgrave/Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66857-0_19 | |
2020 | Lebech, M. (2020) 'The Marvellous Exchange' In: Priest Scholar Teacher Friend. James McEvoy in memoriam. Maynooth : Department of Philosophy MU and Faculty of Philosophy SPCM. | |
2020 | Lebech, M. (2020) 'Edith Stein - Phänomenologische Metaphysik als Aufstieg zum Sinn des Seins' In: Phänomenologische Metaphysik. Tübingen : utb. - Mohr Siebeck. | |
2019 | Lebech, M. (2019) 'Essence, eidos, and dialogue in Stein's 'Husserl and Aquinas. A Comparison'' In: The New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Research. Abingdon : Routledge. [Full-Text] | |
2018 | Lebech, M. (2018) 'Europe and Human Dignity. A Steinian discussion of Joseph Ratzinger's reflections on the problems faced by Europe today' In: Edith Stein. Europe and its Identity. Europa und seine Identität. Nordhausen : Traugott Bautz. [Full-Text] | |
2018 | Lebech, M. (2018) 'Edith Stein and Martin Heidegger: On the Meaning of Being' In: Listening to Edith Stein. Washington DC : ICS Publications. [Full-Text] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. (2017) 'Psychische Gesundheit und Krankheit bei Edith Stein' In: Edith Steins Herausforderung heutiger Anthropologie. Heligenkreuz : BeundBe. [Full-Text] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. (2017) 'Stein's Understanding of Mental Health and Mental Illness' In: Empathy, Sociality, and Personhood. Essays on Edith Stein's Phenomenological Investigations. Cham : Springer. [Full-Text] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. (2017) 'Europa i godnosc czlowieka. Analiza mysli Jezefa Ratzingera dotyczaca przyslosci Europy w swietele filozofii Edyty Stein' In: Edyta Stein Europa I jej Tozsamosc. Wroclaw : Papieski Wydzial Teologiczny. [Full-Text] | |
2016 | Lebech, M. (2016) 'Women in Society: The Critical Potential of Stein's Feminism for Our Understanding of the State' In: Edith Stein: Women, Socio-Political Philosophy, Theology, Metaphysics and Public History. New Approaches and Applications. Dordrecht etc : Springer. [Full-Text] | |
2015 | Lebech, M. and Smith J. (transl.) (2015) 'Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz: 'Sinnereignis in the Philosophy of Edith Stein'' In: Intersubjectivity, Humanity, Being. Edith Stein's Phenomenology and Christian Philosophy. Bern : Peter Lang. | |
2015 | Lebech, M. (2015) 'Menschenwürde im Lichte der Philosophie Edith Steins' In: Edith Stein Jahrbuch 2015. Würzburg : Echter Verlag. [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Lebech, M. (2013) 'Die Anerkennung der Menschenwürde von Demenzkranken. Untersuchungen im Lichte der Philosophie Edith Steins' In: Leid und Mitleid bei Edith Stein. Salzburg : Verlag Anton Pustet. [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Lebech, M. and McEvoy, J. + (2013) 'Robert Grosseteste's Understanding of Human Dignity' In: Robert Grosseteste and His Intellectual Milieu. New Editions and Studies. Toronto : Brepols. [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Lebech, M. (2013) 'The recognition of human dignity in the person living with dementia: reflections in the light of Edith Stein's phenomenology' In: An Irish Reader in Moral Theology. The Legacy of the Last Fifty Years. Volume III: Medical and Bio Ethics. Dublin : Columba Press. [Full-Text] | |
2012 | Lebech, M. (2012) 'Bildung des Menschen - Bildung Europas. Der Einfluss des Christentums im Lichte der Philosophie Edith Steins' In: Die Bildung Europas. Eine Topographie des Möglichen im Horizont der Freiheit. Dresden : Thelem. | |
2011 | Lebech, M. (2011) 'Beginning to Read Stein’s Finite and Eternal Being' In: Phenomenology 2010. Traditions, Transitions and Challenges. Bucharest : Zeta Books. [Full-Text] | |
2011 | Lebech, M. (2011) 'Zum Problem der Menschenwürde' In: Gabe, Schuld, Vergebung, Festschrift für Hanna-Barbara Gerl-Falkovitz. Dresden : Thelem. | |
2011 | Lebech, M. (2011) 'Edith Stein als europäische Philosophin' In: Edith Stein Jahrbuch 2011. Würzburg : Echter Verlag. | |
2010 | Lebech, M. (2010) 'Edith Steins Value Theory and its Importance for her Conception of the State' In: Europa und seine Anderen. Emmanuel Levinas, Edith Stein, Jozef Tichner. Dresden : Thelem. [Full-Text] | |
2009 | Lebech, M. (2009) 'Four Competing Conceptions of Human Dignity in Europe' In: Europäische Menschenbilder. Dresden : Thelem. [Full-Text] | |
2004 | Lebech, M. (2004) 'Personal Friends' In: In Amor Amicitia: On the Love that is Friendship. Essays in Medieval Thought and Beyond, in Honor of the Rev. Professor James McEvoy. Recherches de Théologie et Philosophie médiévales, Bibliotheca 6. Leuven : Peeters. [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) 'Why does John Paul II refer to Edith Stein in Fides et Ratio?' In: The Challenge of Truth. Dublin : Veritas. [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) 'Towards a Definition of Human Dignity' In: La cutura della vita: Fondamenti e dimensioni, supplemento al volume degli atti della VIIa Assemblea Generale. Rome : Libreria Editrice Vaticana. [Full-Text] | |
2000 | Lebech, M. (2000) 'Clarification of the notion of dignity' In: Dignity of the Dying Person, Proceedings of the Fifth General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Rome : Libreria Editrice Vaticana. [Full-Text] |
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2023 | Lebech, M. (2023) 'Stein’s Phenomenology of Grace'. Religions, 14 (7). [Link] [DOI] | |
2020 | Lebech, M. with James McEvoy + (2020) 'Deus qui humanae substantiae dignitatem. A Latin Liturgical Source Contributing to the Conceptualization History of Human Dignity'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 10/2020 :117-133. [Link] https://doi.org/10.5840/mpp202091610 [Full-Text] | |
2018 | Edith Stein, transl. by M. Lebech and J. Smith (2018) 'Truth and Clarity in Teaching and Education'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 9 (2018):113-128. | |
2017 | Lebech M. (2017) 'Stein’s Understanding of Mental Health and Mental Illness'. Contributions To Phenomenology, 94 :107-123. [DOI] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. (2017) 'Europe and Human Dignity. A Steinian Discussion of Josef Ratzinger's Understanding of Europe'. Studia Nauk Teologicznych PAN, 12 :233-248. [Full-Text] | |
2016 | Lebech, M, transl. Acácia Dias Pereira (2016) 'Uma abordagem steiniana da demencia'. Teologia em Questão, XV (2016/2):197-212. [Full-Text] | |
2013 | Lebech, M. (2013) 'Edith Stein's Thomism'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 7 :20-32. [Full-Text] | |
2011 | Lebech, M. (2011) 'Why do we need the Philosophy of Edith Stein?'. COMMUNIO, XXXVIII :682-727. [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Lebech, M. with Jane Adolphe USA, Emmanuel Agius Malta, Vito Antonio Amodio Italy, Robert Barnet USA, Albrecht von Boeselager Germany, Cristian Borgono LC Italy and Chile, Ray Campbell Australia, Paul Chummar CMI Kenya and India, Peter A. Comensoli Australia, Ben Fanaye OP Nigeria, Norman Ford SDB Australia, Adriana Gini Italy, Gerald Gleeson Australia, Nigel Griffin UK, Helge Güldenzoph Germany, Pete Gummere USA, John M. Haas USA, Wolfgang Heinemann Germany, John Heng Canada and Singapore, Jochen Gerd Hoffmann Germany, Julian C. Hughes UK, Christine Jamieson Canada, Jaro Kotalik Canada, Erich von Lobkowicz Germany, James McManus UK, Robert OBrien Canada, Jānis (John) Ozoliņ Australia and Latvia, Peter Quail Canada, Wiesław Reglinski Switzerland and Poland, Christoph von Ritter Germany, Dario Sacchini Italy, William L. Saunders USA, Peter Schallenberg Germany, Linda S. Scheirton USA, Myles N. Sheehan SJ USA, John Sherrington UK, Elke Simon Germany, Ursula Sottong Germany, William F. Sullivan Canada, Daniel P. Sulmasy OFM USA, Paulina Taboada Chile, Carol Taylor USA, Joseph Tham LC Italy Canada and Hong Kong, Bernadette Tobin Australia, Neil Weir UK, Jos V. M. Welie USA (2010) 'Statement on Caring and giving hope to persons living with progressive cognitive impairments and those who care for them'. The national Catholic bioethics quarterly, Autumn 2010 :552-567. [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Lebech, M. (2010) 'Stein’s Value Theory'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2010 :139-150. [Full-Text] | |
2009 | Lebech, M. (2009) 'What can we learn from Edith Stein’s Philosophy of Woman?'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2009 :215-224. [Full-Text] | |
2009 | Lebech, M., McEvoy, J. and Flood, J. (2009) 'On Human Dignity and the Image of God: The Dicta Albini (Ps. Alcuin) and the Dicta Candidi in Translation, and their Latin and English Reception during the Middle Ages'. Viator - Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 40 :1-34. | |
2008 | Lebech, M. (2008) 'Stein's Phenomenology of the Body. The Constitution of the Human Being between Description of Experience and Social Construction'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2008 :61-71. | |
2008 | Lebech, M. (2008) 'Stein's Phenomenology of the Body. The Constitution of the Human Being between Description of Experience and Social Construction'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 5 :16-20. [Full-Text] | |
2007 | Lebech, M. (2007) 'Reading Stein – A Guide for the Perplexed, Feature Review Article of Sarah Borden’s Edith Stein and Alasdair McIntyre’s Edith Stein. A Philosophical Prologue'. International Philosophical Quarterly, (March 2007):103-112. | |
2007 | Lebech, M. (2007) 'Martin Heidegger's Existential Philosophy. A translation of Edith Stein's Martin Heideggers Existentialphilosophie'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 4 :55-98. [Full-Text] | |
2006 | Lebech, M. (2006) 'Edith Stein’s Philosophy of Education in The Structure of the Human Person'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 2006 :163-178. [Full-Text] | |
2004 | Lebech, M. (2004) 'What is Human Dignity?'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 2 :59-69. [Full-Text] | |
2004 | Lebech, M. (2004) 'Study Guide to Edith Stein's Philosophy of Psychology and the Humanities'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 4 :40-76. [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) 'The Constitution of Human Dignity'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2002 :83-91. [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) 'La constitution de la dignité humaine'. REVUE GÉNÉRALE DE DROIT MÉDICAL, 8 :55-68. | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) 'What is Bioethics?'. MAYNOOTH PHILOSOPHICAL PAPERS, 2002 :51-56. [Full-Text] | |
2001 | Lebech, M. (2001) 'Friendship. The Dialectics of Personal Identity'. Yearbook of the Irish Philosophical Society, 2001 :103-113. | |
1998 | Lebech, M. (1998) 'Thomas Aquinas om autenticitet, sandfærdighed og praktisk fornuft'. FILOSOFISKE STUDIER, 18 :161-173. | |
1998 | Lebech, M. (1998) 'Thomas Aquinas’ Personbegreb'. Dansk Teologisk Tidsskrift, 4 :183-196. | |
1998 | Lebech, M. (1998) 'Comment on a proposed draft protocol for the European Convention on Biomedicine relating to research on the human embryo and fetus'. Journal of Medical Ethics, 24 :345-347. [Full-Text] | |
1998 | Lebech, M. (1998) 'Dignity v. Dignity. The Significance of the Notion of Human Dignity in the Human Rights Tradition and its use in Bioethics'. STUDIES IN ETHICS AND LAW, 7 :29-38. [Full-Text] | |
1997 | Lebech, M. (1997) 'Anonymity and Informed Consent in Artificial Procreation'. Bioethics, 11 :336-340. [Full-Text] | |
1995 | Lebech, M. (1995) 'Venskab'. Philosophia, 24 :147-164. | |
1994 | Lebech, M. with Jacob Rendtorff; Peter Højlund. and Peter Kemp (1994) 'Bioetikkens grundlag. Overvejelser over kroppens betydning for bioetik og bioret'. Philosophia, 23 :33-50. | |
1994 | Lebech, M. (1994) 'Thomas Aquinas om følelserne'. FILOSOFISKE STUDIER, 14 :99-130. | |
1993 | Lebech, M. (1993) 'Overvejelser over begrebet ‘venskab’ hos Aristoteles, Cicero og Aelredus af Rievaulx'. FILOSOFISKE STUDIER, 13 :45-76. |
Dictionary Entry
Book Review
Year | Publication | |
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2020 | Lebech, M. (2020) Marius Sitsch: Liebe und Einsamkeit. Komplementäre Gegebenheitsweisen des Anderen nach Edith Stein und Jean-Paul Sartre. Nordhausen: Traugott Bautz Verlag, 2018, 189 S. Würzburg - München - Wien: [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2019 | Lebech, M. (2019) Husserl und Thomas von Aquin bei Edith Stein (Peter Volek, ed.). Maynooth: [Book Review] | |
2017 | Lebech, M. (2017) Peter Volek: Husserl und Thomas von Aquin bei Edith Stein. [Book Review] | |
2009 | Lebech, M. (2009) The Philosophy of Edith Stein. By Antonio Calcagno. [Book Review] | |
2007 | Lebech, M. (2007) Teresa Iglesias: The Dignity of the Individual. [Book Review] | |
2007 | Lebech, M. (2007) Husserl and Stein. By Feist and Sweet. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2006 | Lebech, M. (2006) Who am I? Experiences of Donor Conception. Maynooth: [Book Review] | |
2005 | Lebech, M. (2005) Edith Stein. By Sarah Borden. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2004 | Lebech, M. (2004) Teresa Iglesias: The Dignity of the Individual. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2004 | Lebech, M. (2004) Dignity of the Individual. Issues of Bioethics and Law. By Teresa Iglesias. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2003 | Lebech, M. (2003) Rosemary Radford Ruether: Christianity and the Making of the Modern Family. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) Marianne Sawicki: Body Text and Science. The Literacy of Investigative Practices and the Phenomenology of Edith Stein. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2002 | Lebech, M. (2002) C.D. Gautier: Fra Heavytree til The Temple. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2001 | Lebech, M. (2001) Gérard Mémeteau: Le Mythe Bioéthique. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
2000 | Lebech, M. (2000) Sylvie Courtine-Denamy: Trois femmes dans des sombres temps. Hannah Arendt, Edith Stein, Simone Weil. [Book Review] [Full-Text] | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) ‘Alexina McWhinnie: Kunstig befrugtning. Hvad fortæller vi barnet?. [Book Review] | |
1994 | Lebech, M. (1994) Jacob Dahl Rendtorff: Frihed og Etik i Jean-Paul Sartres filosofi. [Book Review] | |
1994 | Lebech, M. (1994) Gunnar Frederikson: Wittgenstein. En Helgenbiografi. [Book Review] | |
1992 | Lebech, M. (1992) Jan Riis Flor: Erkendelsesteori. [Book Review] |
Other Journal
Year | Publication | |
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2010 | Lebech, M. (2010) 'On the Problem of Human Dignity' Bioethics Outlook, 21 :3-8. [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Lebech, M. (2010) 'Concernant le problème de la dignité humaine' Recherches philosophiques, 2010 :15-26. [Full-Text] | |
1997 | Lebech, M. (1997) 'Comment on a Proposed Draft Protocol for the European Convention on Biomedicine Relating to Research on the Human Embryo and Fetus' MIT Sloan Management Review, :69-72. | |
1997 | Lebech, M. (1997) 'Bioetik i en interafhængig verden' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 5, :127-137. | |
1997 | Lebech, M. (1997) 'Kunstig befrugtning og embryoets status' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 5, :139-149. | |
1997 | Lebech, M. (1997) 'Principperne i de nye franske love' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 5, :11-21. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'Kærligheden hos Thomas Aquinas' Lumen, Sankt Mariae Kirkes Sogneblad, (3) :3-9. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'Fundamental Principles in Bioethics' Working Papers: Research Projects, EU BIOMED II meeting June 1 - 4, 1996 in Copenhagen, :115-117. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'Den 11. Verdenskongres om Sundhedsret' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 4, :105-111. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'Denmark. National Laws, Directives, Regulation and Debate' Working Papers: Biolaw in Europe, EU BIOMED II meeting June 1 - 4, 1996 in Copenhagen, :31-34. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'Retfærdighed, lighed og fornuft. Aristotles om retfærdighed i den Nikomakæiske Etik' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 2, :43-54. | |
1996 | Lebech, M. (1996) 'The State of American Bioethics' Studier i Etik og Ret, no. 4, :97-104. | |
1995 | Lebech, M. (1995) 'Julian om glæden' Levende Vand. Tidskrift for Kristen Mystik, 8 (2) :22-28. | |
1994 | Lebech, M. (1994) 'Thomas Aquinas om Glæden' Levende Vand. Tidskrift for Kristen Mystik, 7 (3) :4-12. |
Magazine Article
Newspaper Articles
Conference Contribution
Policy Contribution
Internet Communication
Year | Publication | |
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2022 | Mette Lebech and Marianne Sawicki (2022) Chronology of Writings. IASPES Website: [Internet Communication] [Link] |
Published Interview
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2021 | Lebech, M. (2021) Filosof: Edith Steins Metafysik viser os at Kristen Filosofi er Nødvendig. Koebenhavn: [Published Interview] [Link] | |
2021 | Lebech, M. (2021) Edith Stein tænkte nyt om nåde. [Published Interview] | |
2019 | Lebech, M. and Alissa McMillan (2019) The teaching of women philosophers. [Published Interview] [Link] | |
2019 | Lebech, M. and Jennifer Strube (2019) Frauen haben etwas zu sagen. [Published Interview] [Link] | |
2018 | Lebech, M. and Ruth Hagengruber (2018) Mette Lebech on Edith Stein Conversations with Diotima. [Published Interview] [Link] |
Video recording / TV
Year | Publication | |
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2023 | Lebech, M. (2023) Edith Stein Phenomenology. [Video recording / TV] [Link] |
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