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The Dethronement of Truth
This slim volume can be read as a handbook for the restoration of truth to its rightful place at the throne of human reason. In the essays presented here, Dietrich von Hildebrand dismantles the various intellectual and political movements that have worked to undermine truth over the last relativism, skepticism, materialism, historicism, psychologism, Communism, and Nazism. He shows the utter insufficiency of such arguments and reveals their common root in the denial of God and people’s attempts to be like gods themselves. To anyone who has looked at the modern world and wondered how did we get here? and how do we get out? this book shows the way.
- GenresPhilosophy
102 pages, Paperback
Published December 20, 2021
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About the author
Dietrich von Hildebrand
76 books210 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 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 5, 2026
Outspoken critic of Nazism completely dismantles the National Socialist party, and Bolshevism. The antithesis of both these ideologies directly undermine, and ignore the fundamental principles of Truth; “Truth itself”
The dethronement of truth is a hand book for anyone who still doubts truth in its entirety and prefers Materialism or as Dietrich von Hildebrand says “Radical Materialism,” which has caused an insurmountable amount of damage, and confusion to “Modern Man.”
The National Socialist Morality of the “Master race” views the poor as he states as “faulty products” a burden to human society.
“National Socialism and the ethos of the Sermon on the mount constitute an utter antithesis.”
Separated by an Unabridged Abyss, therefore the dethronement of truth points to two fronts—for 2000 years man has been against Christ.
The dethronement of truth is a hand book for anyone who still doubts truth in its entirety and prefers Materialism or as Dietrich von Hildebrand says “Radical Materialism,” which has caused an insurmountable amount of damage, and confusion to “Modern Man.”
The National Socialist Morality of the “Master race” views the poor as he states as “faulty products” a burden to human society.
“National Socialism and the ethos of the Sermon on the mount constitute an utter antithesis.”
Separated by an Unabridged Abyss, therefore the dethronement of truth points to two fronts—for 2000 years man has been against Christ.
August 6, 2023
A short exposition on the dethronement of truth. To von Hildebrand, the dethronement of truth means its removal from centrality of discussion and litmus rest of all opinions and theories. The acceptance of skepticism and relativism mean that people no longer judge thoughts and ideas in comparison to an objective truth. They judge them according to history or according to how they fit into different ideologies and thought-groups.
A short read, but enjoyable, informing, and thought-provoking. Would have read a longer book on the same topic!
A short read, but enjoyable, informing, and thought-provoking. Would have read a longer book on the same topic!
April 21, 2023
Good book on Truth. Von Hildebrand is very much a ‘ressourcement’ theologian and I think he could have expressed this with perhaps a bit more nuance. The same could be said for his commentary on collectivism and individualism.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews