Jacques Maritain

Date of Birth: November 18, 1882

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: April 28, 1973

Biography

Jacques Maritain was a prominent French philosopher born on November 18, 1882, in Paris, France. He is best known for his contributions to Christian philosophy and his work in reviving Thomism, the philosophical school that follows the teachings of Thomas Aquinas. Maritain had a profound influence on 20th-century Catholic thought and was instrumental in bringing philosophical discussions into the modern era. Maritain initially studied at the Sorbonne, where he met his future wife, Raïssa Oumansoff, a Russian Jewish émigré who converted to Catholicism with him. Their conversion led them to become deeply involved in Catholic intellectual circles. Jacques Maritain taught at various esteemed institutions, including Princeton University and the Pontifical Institute of Medieval Studies in Toronto. Throughout his life, Maritain wrote extensively on topics ranging from metaphysics and epistemology to social and political philosophy. He was a vocal advocate for human rights and played a key role in drafting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Maritain’s works, such as “Integral Humanism,” “The Degrees of Knowledge,” and “Man and the State,” remain influential. Jacques Maritain passed away on April 28, 1973, in Toulouse, France, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most significant Catholic philosophers of the 20th century.

5 Interesting Facts about Jacques Maritain

1. Jacques Maritain converted to Catholicism in 1906, profoundly shaping his philosophical outlook.

2. He was a close friend of the poet Charles Péguy and was influenced by his spiritual and literary ideas.

3. Maritain served as the French ambassador to the Vatican from 1945 to 1948.

4. He was a key figure in the development of the personalist movement, which emphasizes the importance of the human person.

5. Maritain influenced the Second Vatican Council, particularly in its approach to modernity and human rights.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jacques Maritain

1. “We do not need a truth to serve us, we need a truth that we can serve.”

2. “The human person is ordained directly to God as to its absolute ultimate end.”

3. “Gratitude is the most exquisite form of courtesy.”

4. “A man of courage flees forward, in the midst of new things.”

5. “The artist pours out his creativity as a gift to the world.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Jacques Maritain’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as he was more renowned for his philosophical contributions than for accumulating wealth.

Children

Jacques Maritain and his wife, Raïssa, did not have biological children. They did, however, adopt and care for Raïssa’s younger sister, Vera Oumansoff, whom they treated as their own daughter.