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Graven Images: Substitutes for True Morality
B000J2K3B0 Product Graven Substitutes for True Morality Category (item-type): book US
- GenresPhilosophyReligion
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1957
About the author
Dietrich von Hildebrand
79 books224 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 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 16, 2026
There is a sense in which I have been waiting to read this book all my life. It can be quite technical in its use of terminology, so it may take some time to fully engage with the arguments, but it is definitely worth the effort. If we were to examine the society around us and compare it, in an intellectually honest way, with what Christian morality teaches, the results would be fairly devastating, at least for most Christians.
Dietrich von Hildebrand argues that, due to our darkened intellects, human beings have a tendency to replace the true content of morality with substitute moralities. This is generally done as an unconscious compromise to satisfy baser instincts such as pride and concupiscence. While some of these substitute moralities retain a connection to true morality, they are nonetheless disordered. At best, they are distortions of the moral sphere; at worst, they become idols.
Von Hildebrand provides many examples to illustrate his argument. These include the elevation of human law and loyalty to the state to the place of true morality, along with the mistaken belief that a person who is perfectly law-abiding or wholly loyal to the state is thereby a fully realised moral being. (Von Hildebrand himself fled the Nazis during the Second World War and was a vocal critic of the regime.) Another example is the substitution of honour for true morality.
These moral substitutions may at times enable their adherents to live comfortable lives, but they also create a kind of value blindness that dulls their awareness of conscience, preventing them from recognising its demands and acting in accordance with it.
Some examples in the book are products of their time, and the translation reflects the English of the 1950s. The extensive classifications and sub-classifications of different types of moral substitution may also deter some readers. The book demands close and attentive reading. From my perspective, however, it is well worth the effort, as it conveys something deeply important about the nature of the human intellect and our capacity for self-deception. While no human life, apart from two we know of theologically, has been entirely free from the lure of substitute moralities, the times we are living in now seem particularly susceptible to them.
Dietrich von Hildebrand argues that, due to our darkened intellects, human beings have a tendency to replace the true content of morality with substitute moralities. This is generally done as an unconscious compromise to satisfy baser instincts such as pride and concupiscence. While some of these substitute moralities retain a connection to true morality, they are nonetheless disordered. At best, they are distortions of the moral sphere; at worst, they become idols.
Von Hildebrand provides many examples to illustrate his argument. These include the elevation of human law and loyalty to the state to the place of true morality, along with the mistaken belief that a person who is perfectly law-abiding or wholly loyal to the state is thereby a fully realised moral being. (Von Hildebrand himself fled the Nazis during the Second World War and was a vocal critic of the regime.) Another example is the substitution of honour for true morality.
These moral substitutions may at times enable their adherents to live comfortable lives, but they also create a kind of value blindness that dulls their awareness of conscience, preventing them from recognising its demands and acting in accordance with it.
Some examples in the book are products of their time, and the translation reflects the English of the 1950s. The extensive classifications and sub-classifications of different types of moral substitution may also deter some readers. The book demands close and attentive reading. From my perspective, however, it is well worth the effort, as it conveys something deeply important about the nature of the human intellect and our capacity for self-deception. While no human life, apart from two we know of theologically, has been entirely free from the lure of substitute moralities, the times we are living in now seem particularly susceptible to them.
December 10, 2012
I have some difficulty grasping the full content of philosophical thought and von Hildebrand is a very deep thinker, but I always gain much from his works.
This was pre-Vatican II and so is much more positive. Von Hildebrand was extremely disturbed by the changes in the liturgy, and personally traveled to the Vatican and met with Pope Paul VI to express his dismay and attempt to convince His Eminence to prevent the liturgical changes to no avail. Afterwards, his works exhibited a distressed tone.
This was pre-Vatican II and so is much more positive. Von Hildebrand was extremely disturbed by the changes in the liturgy, and personally traveled to the Vatican and met with Pope Paul VI to express his dismay and attempt to convince His Eminence to prevent the liturgical changes to no avail. Afterwards, his works exhibited a distressed tone.
February 1, 2025
This was a life-changing book for me. With great mastery, Dietrich von Hildebrand makes us understand how the space of morality (moral values) can be corrupted and distorted. It's an amazing book that I totally recommend.
I would say that it helps to read his "Ethics" book first to get acquainted with his terminology.
I would say that it helps to read his "Ethics" book first to get acquainted with his terminology.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews