Götz Briefs
Encyclopedia
Götz Briefs was a Catholic
social theorist, social ethicist, social philosopher and political economist, who together with Jesuit Gundlach, influenced the social teachings of Pope Pius XI
.
. As it was customary in German academic circles at the time, he frequently switched universities, moving in 1909 to Bonn
, and later in 1911 to Freiburg
. In Freiburg, he became a member of K.D.St. V. Wildenstein Freiburg im Breisgau, a Catholic student fraternity that belong to the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
. In 1911, he completed his doctoral dissertation with an investigation of the impact of the alcoholic beverage industry on market price structures. He was awarded the highest honor Summa Cum Laude for his dissertation and continued on the topic of profits with his Habilitation
on the impact of average profits on the economy in 1913.
In 1919, he was named Professor for economics at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg. Two years later 1921 he accepted a professorship at the Julius-Maximilian-Universität in Würzburg
. In 1923 he returned to Freiburg and in 1926 to Berlin at the Technische Hochschule
. In 1928, he founded an Institute for Industrial Sociology
in Berlin
.
After the National Socialists won the elections in Germany and took over the government, he, like many other outspoken Catholics, lost his career and was forced to leave his native country. Göetz Briefs emigrated to the USA, where he found a teaching position as guest professor at the Catholic University
and later full professor at the Jesuit Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C.
After being widowed during the war years, he married Elinor Castendyk in 1946, who later became known for her work on and translations of Romano Guardini
. After his retirement, the couple lived in a mountain retreat near the Trappist monastery Holy Cross Abbey
in Berryville
in Clarke County, Virginia
, which he visited with his wife on a daily basis. Goetz Briefs had an impact on the social teachings of the Catholic Church and was considered a ghost writer of the encyclical Quadragesimo Anno
of Pope Pius XI
with his friend, the Jesuit Gustav Gundlach, with whom he spent his annual Summer vacations together. Göetz Briefs died in Rome of complications from an accident in the Vatican. After visiting Pope Paul VI
he fell on the Vatican steps leading to Saint Peter's Plaza. He is buried in the Vatican's Campo Santo.
With Gustav Gundlach, Theodor Brauer, Paul Jostock, Franz H. Mueller, Heinrich Rommen and Oswald von Nell-Breuning he was a member of the "Königswinter Circle" at the Königswinter
"Institute for Society and Economy". Briefs received multiple scholarships and six honorary doctorates.In addition:
Göetz Briefs published approximately 350 scientific articles. The road "Götz-Briefs-Weg" in his hometown was named after him in 1989.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
social theorist, social ethicist, social philosopher and political economist, who together with Jesuit Gundlach, influenced the social teachings of Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
.
Biography
In 1908, Götz Briefs began to study history and philosophy at the University of MunichMunich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. As it was customary in German academic circles at the time, he frequently switched universities, moving in 1909 to Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, and later in 1911 to Freiburg
Freiburg
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. In the extreme south-west of the country, it straddles the Dreisam river, at the foot of the Schlossberg. Historically, the city has acted as the hub of the Breisgau region on the western edge of the Black Forest in the Upper Rhine Plain...
. In Freiburg, he became a member of K.D.St. V. Wildenstein Freiburg im Breisgau, a Catholic student fraternity that belong to the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
. In 1911, he completed his doctoral dissertation with an investigation of the impact of the alcoholic beverage industry on market price structures. He was awarded the highest honor Summa Cum Laude for his dissertation and continued on the topic of profits with his Habilitation
Habilitation
Habilitation is the highest academic qualification a scholar can achieve by his or her own pursuit in several European and Asian countries. Earned after obtaining a research doctorate, such as a PhD, habilitation requires the candidate to write a professorial thesis based on independent...
on the impact of average profits on the economy in 1913.
In 1919, he was named Professor for economics at the Albert-Ludwigs-Universität in Freiburg. Two years later 1921 he accepted a professorship at the Julius-Maximilian-Universität in Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
. In 1923 he returned to Freiburg and in 1926 to Berlin at the Technische Hochschule
Technische Hochschule
Technische Hochschule is what an Institute of Technology used to be called in German-speaking countries, as well as in the Netherlands, before most of them changed their name to Technische Universität or Technische Universiteit in the 1970s and in the...
. In 1928, he founded an Institute for Industrial Sociology
Industrial sociology
Industrial sociology, until recently a crucial research area within the field of sociology of work, examines "the direction and implications of trends in technological change, globalization, labour markets, work organization, managerial practices and employment relations to the extent to which...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
After the National Socialists won the elections in Germany and took over the government, he, like many other outspoken Catholics, lost his career and was forced to leave his native country. Göetz Briefs emigrated to the USA, where he found a teaching position as guest professor at the Catholic University
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
and later full professor at the Jesuit Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
After being widowed during the war years, he married Elinor Castendyk in 1946, who later became known for her work on and translations of Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini
Romano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in 20th-century.- Life and work:...
. After his retirement, the couple lived in a mountain retreat near the Trappist monastery Holy Cross Abbey
Holy Cross Abbey, Virginia
Holy Cross Abbey is a monastery of the Catholic Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance , popularly known as the Trappists. The monastery is located near Berryville in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, United States...
in Berryville
Berryville, Virginia
Berryville is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Clarke County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,963 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
in Clarke County, Virginia
Clarke County, Virginia
Clarke County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 14,034. Its county seat is Berryville.-History:Clarke County was established in 1836 by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who built a home, Greenway Court, on part of his 5 million acre property,...
, which he visited with his wife on a daily basis. Goetz Briefs had an impact on the social teachings of the Catholic Church and was considered a ghost writer of the encyclical Quadragesimo Anno
Quadragesimo Anno
Quadragesimo Anno is an encyclical written by Pope Pius XI, issued 15 May 1931, 40 years after Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum. Unlike Leo XIII, who addressed the condition of workers, Pius XI discusses the ethical implications of the social and economic order...
of Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI
Pope Pius XI , born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti, was Pope from 6 February 1922, and sovereign of Vatican City from its creation as an independent state on 11 February 1929 until his death on 10 February 1939...
with his friend, the Jesuit Gustav Gundlach, with whom he spent his annual Summer vacations together. Göetz Briefs died in Rome of complications from an accident in the Vatican. After visiting Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
he fell on the Vatican steps leading to Saint Peter's Plaza. He is buried in the Vatican's Campo Santo.
With Gustav Gundlach, Theodor Brauer, Paul Jostock, Franz H. Mueller, Heinrich Rommen and Oswald von Nell-Breuning he was a member of the "Königswinter Circle" at the Königswinter
Königswinter
Königswinter is a town and summer resort in the Rhein-Sieg district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is situated on the right bank of the Rhine, opposite to Bonn, at the foot of the Siebengebirge.- Main sights :...
"Institute for Society and Economy". Briefs received multiple scholarships and six honorary doctorates.In addition:
- 1959 The Distinguished Service Cross of the Federal Republic of Germany "Pour le merit"
- 1968 The Star to the Order of Merit.
Göetz Briefs published approximately 350 scientific articles. The road "Götz-Briefs-Weg" in his hometown was named after him in 1989.
External links
- The Mont Pèlerin Society Records at the Hoover Institution Archives contains sound recordings of Briefs.