Wilfrid Desan
Encyclopedia
Wilfrid Desan was a professor in philosophy best known for introducing French existentialism
and especially the thought of Jean-Paul Sartre
to the United States. He was a native of Belgium who emigrated to the United States in 1948, where he gained a doctorate from Harvard University
in 1951 and met his wife Elisabeth. In 1952, he gained a lectureship at the philosophy department of Kenyon College
. In 1957, he joined Georgetown University
where he remained for the rest of his academic career and where he enjoyed a good reputation as teacher and a clear writer. He also had appointments as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Villanova University
and Visiting Professor at George Mason University
. He developed his own noetic philosophy in his three-volume work The Planetary Man, a prescient, pioneering vision of globalisation unifying the world's peoples.
Each person or nation by itself is considered incomplete (fragmented) in being and in knowledge, and each approaches reality subjectively from a specific angle. Therefore, each can only arrive at partial truths on their own. If true and universal objectivity is to be achieved at the level of noesis, Desan argues that then we must cooperate, in particular by acquiring a globalising viewpoint which transcends our own limited and incomplete understandings, and in this way become "planetary persons" who, realizing the limits of the "angular visions" of each, reach insight in the totum to ensure its survival, considered as the highest good.
The truly "planetary person" is regarded in Desan's philosophy as a saint
, and as a diplomat
or cosmopolite
. For Desan, the planetary person is the savior of the totum because God
's work, assuming the divine
truly exists, is in fact our own work, and therefore "salvation" (in the secular sense of survival) must be ensured through practical human efforts made toward planetary unification
. Using the techniques of phenomenology, he examines the forms and characteristics of the new awareness and the ways of relating that will be required of human beings in a global environment.
Desan's philosophy is deeply committed to the inviolability of the individual, and borrows, articulates or integrates concepts from theology
, anthropology
and ethics
. But his philosophy can be considered as being essentially a hopeful humanism
, envisaging the possibility of human beings attaining a higher level of consciousness through their own efforts, adequate to ensure the future of the species. It draws on insights from Continental philosophy
and Anglo-Saxon philosophy
in a way which intends to overcome some deficiencies of previous liberal
, socialist and other emancipatory philosophies, thus doing more justice to the complexity of human situations and the intersubjective meanings which people attach to their actions.
Existentialism
Existentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
and especially the thought of Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Sartre
Jean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
to the United States. He was a native of Belgium who emigrated to the United States in 1948, where he gained a doctorate from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1951 and met his wife Elisabeth. In 1952, he gained a lectureship at the philosophy department of Kenyon College
Kenyon College
Kenyon College is a private liberal arts college in Gambier, Ohio, founded in 1824 by Bishop Philander Chase of The Episcopal Church, in parallel with the Bexley Hall seminary. It is the oldest private college in Ohio...
. In 1957, he joined 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...
where he remained for the rest of his academic career and where he enjoyed a good reputation as teacher and a clear writer. He also had appointments as Distinguished Visiting Professor at Villanova University
Villanova University
Villanova University is a private university located in Radnor Township, a suburb northwest of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States...
and Visiting Professor at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. He developed his own noetic philosophy in his three-volume work The Planetary Man, a prescient, pioneering vision of globalisation unifying the world's peoples.
Planetary philosophy
Desan argues that as unique individuals we originate as parts of a larger whole, which he calls the totum, and we are destined to return to this totum through meaningful dialogue, which the whole enables. Individuals may be unique or unequal, but that does not necessarily have to be the cause of serious conflict among persons or nations. Precisely because of their differences, they can complement each other.Each person or nation by itself is considered incomplete (fragmented) in being and in knowledge, and each approaches reality subjectively from a specific angle. Therefore, each can only arrive at partial truths on their own. If true and universal objectivity is to be achieved at the level of noesis, Desan argues that then we must cooperate, in particular by acquiring a globalising viewpoint which transcends our own limited and incomplete understandings, and in this way become "planetary persons" who, realizing the limits of the "angular visions" of each, reach insight in the totum to ensure its survival, considered as the highest good.
The truly "planetary person" is regarded in Desan's philosophy as a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
, and as a diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
or cosmopolite
World citizen
World citizen has a variety of similar meanings, often referring to a person who disapproves of traditional geopolitical divisions derived from national citizenship....
. For Desan, the planetary person is the savior of the totum because God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
's work, assuming the divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
truly exists, is in fact our own work, and therefore "salvation" (in the secular sense of survival) must be ensured through practical human efforts made toward planetary unification
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
. Using the techniques of phenomenology, he examines the forms and characteristics of the new awareness and the ways of relating that will be required of human beings in a global environment.
Desan's philosophy is deeply committed to the inviolability of the individual, and borrows, articulates or integrates concepts from theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
. But his philosophy can be considered as being essentially a hopeful humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
, envisaging the possibility of human beings attaining a higher level of consciousness through their own efforts, adequate to ensure the future of the species. It draws on insights from Continental philosophy
Continental philosophy
Continental philosophy, in contemporary usage, refers to a set of traditions of 19th and 20th century philosophy from mainland Europe. This sense of the term originated among English-speaking philosophers in the second half of the 20th century, who used it to refer to a range of thinkers and...
and Anglo-Saxon philosophy
Analytic philosophy
Analytic philosophy is a generic term for a style of philosophy that came to dominate English-speaking countries in the 20th century...
in a way which intends to overcome some deficiencies of previous liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
, socialist and other emancipatory philosophies, thus doing more justice to the complexity of human situations and the intersubjective meanings which people attach to their actions.
Writings
- The Tragic Finale: An Essay on the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre (1954) http://www.archive.org/details/tragicfinaleanes010446mbp
- The Planetary Man, Vol. 1: A Noetic Prelude to a United World (1961)
- The Marxism of Jean-Paul Sartre (1965)
- The Planetary Man, Vol. 2: An Ethical Prelude to a United World (1972)
- The Planetary Man, Vol. 3: Let the future come: perspectives for a planetary peace (1987)
- "The Vitality and Power of Sartre", in The Review of Politics, Vol. 50, No. 2 (Spring, 1988), pp. 336-339
- "Beyond the Self in Sartre", in The Review of Politics, Vol. 46, No. 4 (Oct., 1984), pp. 635-637
- "Sartre the Individualist" and "A English version of Sartre's Main Philosophical Work: Critique of Dialectical Reason", in William L. McBride, Existentialist politics and political theory (1997)
Quotation
"Only those who are genuinely able to rise above their own self-interest will ultimately command the respect of others. They will be revered as leaders. These are the people whose motives are believed in, who are admired and followed." - Wilfrid Desan, The Planetary Man (New York: Macmillan, 1972), 379.Commentaries
- R.M. Baird, "Wilfrid Desan's Vision of the New Man: Planetary Man", Philosophy Today, 1976, vol. 20, no3, pp. 235-242.
- J.J. Walter, "Wilfred Desan. The Planetary Man: Vols. I & II and Let the Future Come: Perspectives For Planetary Peace", in The Journal of Religion 69 (January, 1989): 135-136.
- P. J. Levesque, "Review of The Planetary Man. Vol. 3, Let the Future Come, by Wilfrid Desan". In Review of Metaphysics 42 (June 1989): 822-824.
Obituary
- J.B. Brough, "Wilfrid Desan, 1908-2001", by John B. Brough, Proceedings and Addresses of the American Philosophical Association, Vol. 75, No. 5 (May, 2002), pp. 189-190
See also
- noosphereNoosphereNoosphere , according to the thought of Vladimir Vernadsky and Teilhard de Chardin, denotes the "sphere of human thought". The word is derived from the Greek νοῦς + σφαῖρα , in lexical analogy to "atmosphere" and "biosphere". Introduced by Pierre Teilhard de Chardin 1922 in his Cosmogenesis"...
- Jean-Paul SartreJean-Paul SartreJean-Paul Charles Aymard Sartre was a French existentialist philosopher, playwright, novelist, screenwriter, political activist, biographer, and literary critic. He was one of the leading figures in 20th century French philosophy, particularly Marxism, and was one of the key figures in literary...
- Teilhard de Chardin
- Phenomenology
- ExistentialismExistentialismExistentialism is a term applied to a school of 19th- and 20th-century philosophers who, despite profound doctrinal differences, shared the belief that philosophical thinking begins with the human subject—not merely the thinking subject, but the acting, feeling, living human individual...
- Paraconsistent logicParaconsistent logicA paraconsistent logic is a logical system that attempts to deal with contradictions in a discriminating way. Alternatively, paraconsistent logic is the subfield of logic that is concerned with studying and developing paraconsistent systems of logic.Inconsistency-tolerant logics have been...
- Dialectics