STÖCKL, ALBERT. - Neo-Scholastic philosopher and theologian, b. 15 March 1823 at Möhren (Middle Franconia), d. at Eichstätt on 15 Nov. 1895.
He studied philosophy and theology at the episcopal Lyceum of Eichstätt (1843-48). Ordained a priest (28 Apr. 1848), he taught philosophy at the same Lyceum of Eichstätt (from 1850), then (1857) exegesis and the Hebrew language. Called to the chair of philosophy at the Academy of Münster (1862), on account of disagreements that arose in that same Academy at the time of the Vatican Council, he returned (1871) to the diocese of Eichstätt, as parish priest at Gimperhausen. A canon (1877) at Eichstätt, he resumed the teaching of philosophy at the Lyceum. From 1878 to '81 he was also a member of the lower chamber in the Reichstag. S. contributed, through his many and widely circulated publications in philosophy and the history of philosophy - chiefly expository in character but remarkable for clarity and penetration - to the revival of Neo-Thomism in Germany. He treated virtually all the philosophical disciplines and in particular wrote against materialism (Materialismus geprüft in seiner Lehrsätzen u. deren Konsequenzen, Mainz 1877).
Of his other principal works, mention should be made of: Gesch. der Philos. des Mittelalters (3 vols., Mainz 1864-66); Gesch. der Philos. (Würzburg 1868; 8th ed. in 2 vols., 1905, 1912); Grundriss der Religionsphilos. (ibid. 1872); Lehrbuch der Paedagogik (ibid. 1873); Gesch. der neueren Philos. (2 vols., ibid. 1883); Gesch. der christl. Philos. z. Zeit der Kirchenväter (ibid. 1891); Grundriss der Gesch. der Philos. (ibid. 1894; 4th ed. 1924). Among his apologetico-theological works: Liturgie u. dogmatische Bedeutung d. alttestamentl. Opfer (Regensburg 1848); Das Opfer nach s. Wesen u. nach s. Gesch. (Mainz 1861); Das Christentum u. die grossen Fragen d. Gegenwart, etc. (3 vols., ibid. 1879-80); Lehrbuch d. Apologetik (2 vols., ibid. 1895).
Bibliography
Ugo Viglino