Abstract

Przywara lived in the Jesuit community in Munich until the close of the second world war. He belonged to the group of Southern German Catholic scholars of widely ranging philosophical and theological interests, which included Karl Adam, Martin Grabmann and Guardini among others. Contributing frequently to the magazine of his order, Stimmen der Zeit, he was the leading German Jesuit philosopher of religion in the period between the two world wars. Przywara attracted special attention because he welcomed, more than most of his Catholic colleagues, discussions with all schools of German philosophy, Kantian, Hegelian idealist and modern existentialist, as well as with Protestant dialectical theologians. His own position was always defended with wide historical knowledge and philosophical understanding. There is more frequent reference in most of the periodicals and books of the period to Przywara's argument in some particular discussion or controversy than to his own systematic exposition and philosophy. His philosophical interests were stimulated by his personal friendship with Martin Heidegger which dates from their early association together as pupils at a Jesuit school in Austria. Przywara, probably more than any other Catholic thinker, has not only been attracted to but really shared in the new speculation and positive insights of existential philosophy.