Dietrich von Hildebrand’s theory of axiological polycentricism

The aim of this article is to present Dietrich von Hildebrand’s concept of moral and immoral centres. By reflecting upon human acts, Hildebrand indicates three different centers in a person: the positive one, “loving, reverent, humble, value-responding center”, and the two negative ones: “pride” and “concupiscence”. Shortly speaking, the term “center” defines the qualitative unity of a basic attitude from which many other attitudes derive. There are five main forms of coexistence of these centers which reveal their nature and relations among them. Three parts of this paper involve the problem of the genesis of the axiological centers, their specific characteristics and forms of the coexistence of good and evil in man. In the last paragraph of the article, the author shares his thoughts and makes several remarks on the subject. The inspiring Dietrich von Hildebrand’s theory of axiological polycentricism provides one with an opportunity to reconsider their own views regarding human acts, the world of values and disvalues in morality. Additionally, von Hildebrand’s theory refers to some theoretical problems which still need a deeper and more substantial explanation.