Josef Pieper

Josef Pieper (1904–1997) was a German philosopher. He studied philosophy, law, and sociology in Berlin and Münster and received his doctorate from the University of Münster in 1928. He completed his habilitation there in 1946. From the 1950s until 1972, he taught philosophical anthropology at the University of Münster and also taught in Essen. Pieper published more than 80 books, which were translated into numerous languages. His main subjects included the Christian view of humanity, the virtues, and the philosophy of Thomas Aquinas; notable works include “The Reality and the Good” and “The Truth of Things.” He was a member of several academies and received numerous honors, including the Balzan Prize for the humanities.