Maurice Blondel
Encyclopedia
Maurice Blondel was a French
philosopher.
Blondel developed a "philosophy of action” that integrated classical Neoplatonic thought with modern Pragmatism in the context of a Christian
philosophy of religion. He held that action alone could never satisfy the human yearning for the transfinite, which could only be fulfilled by God, whom he described as the "first principle and last term."
In 1881, he joined the École Normale Supérieure
of Paris
. In 1893 he finished his thesis "L'Action" (Action), a critical essay of life and of a science of the practice. In 1895 he became a Maître de Conférences at Lille
, then at Aix-en-Provence
and became a professor in 1897.
His wife died in 1919 and in 1927 he retired for health reasons. Between 1934 and 1937 he published a trilogy dedicated to the thought, the being and the action. In 1935, he published an essay of concrete and integrale ontology
"L'être et les êtres" (The Being and the Beings) and in 1946 he published "L'esprit chrétien" (The Christian Spirit).
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
philosopher.
Blondel developed a "philosophy of action” that integrated classical Neoplatonic thought with modern Pragmatism in the context of a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
philosophy of religion. He held that action alone could never satisfy the human yearning for the transfinite, which could only be fulfilled by God, whom he described as the "first principle and last term."
In 1881, he joined the École Normale Supérieure
École Normale Supérieure
The École normale supérieure is one of the most prestigious French grandes écoles...
of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. In 1893 he finished his thesis "L'Action" (Action), a critical essay of life and of a science of the practice. In 1895 he became a Maître de Conférences at Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, then at Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
and became a professor in 1897.
His wife died in 1919 and in 1927 he retired for health reasons. Between 1934 and 1937 he published a trilogy dedicated to the thought, the being and the action. In 1935, he published an essay of concrete and integrale ontology
Ontology
Ontology is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations...
"L'être et les êtres" (The Being and the Beings) and in 1946 he published "L'esprit chrétien" (The Christian Spirit).
Works
- L'Action – Essai d'une critique de la vie et d'une science de la pratique, PUF, 1950
- Action (1893): Essay on a Critique of Life and a Science of Practice (Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1984).
- L'être et les êtres – Essai d'ontologie concrète et intégrale, PUF, 1963
- The letter on apologetics and History and dogma (edited and translated by Alexander Dru & Illtyd TrethowanIlltyd TrethowanDom Illtyd Trethowan , earlier known as Kenneth Trethowan, was an English priest, philosopher, and author, for more than thirty years sub-prior of Downside Abbey in Somerset and a visiting professor in theology at Brown University.-Early life:Born at Salisbury in 1907, he was the son of William...
, Harvill Press, 1964)
On Blondel
- James Somerville, Total Commitment: Blondel’s L’Action (Washington DC: Corpus, 1968).
- Andreas Uwe Mueller, Christlicher Glaube und historische Kritik. Maurice Blondel und Alfred Loisy im Ringen um das Verhaeltnis von Schrift und Tradition (Freiburg, Herder, 2008).
- Peter HenriciPeter HenriciPeter Henrici, born the 31 March 1928, at Zurich , is a Swiss Jesuit priest, renowned Blondelian philosopher and professor at the Gregorian University. He was Auxiliary Bishop of Chur from 1993 to 2007.-Biography:...
. Hegel und Blondel: Eine Untersuchung uber Form und Sinn der Dialektik in der 'Phanomenologie des Geistes' und der ersten 'Action'. Pullach bei Munchen: Berchmanskollege, 1958.