Jessica Ferrell | Westminster Seminary California (original) (raw)

Thesis Chapters by Jessica Ferrell

Although there has been much discussion concerning the nature of Paul Ricoeur’s position on the r... more Although there has been much discussion concerning the nature of Paul Ricoeur’s position on the relationship between philosophy and theology, most of the research has revolved around Ricoeur’s hermeneutical writings and later work, to the neglect of his early pre-hermeneutical works on the subject, many of which still remain untranslated into English, proving ignorance or disinterest. To fill this gap in contemporary scholarship, I have analyzed three telling French articles on Ricoeur’s distinction between philosophy and theology and have also taken into account the way in which his early influences guided his thought, influences such as Karl Barth, Roger Mehl, Gabriel Marcel, Karl Jaspers, Edmund Husserl, and French reflexive philosophy. I have concluded that Ricoeur developed a stance on the relationship between Christianity and existentialism which articulated a common birth in Christian existential concerns but also an inherent tension, philosophy serving the task of knowledge and theology serving the task of preaching. Nonetheless, he saw this tension as a dialogue which allowed theology and philosophy to challenge and sharpen one another. Ultimately, Ricoeur’s philosophy was intended to provide believers and unbelievers alike with a philosophy logically consonant with the gospel and to intensify the Christian’s desire for the proclamation of the gospel through attention to scandalous existential questions.

Drafts by Jessica Ferrell

Luce Irigaray (c. 1932-present) and Jean-Luc Marion (1946-present) constitute an odd pair of Fren... more Luce Irigaray (c. 1932-present) and Jean-Luc Marion (1946-present) constitute an odd pair of French philosophers. She is a linguist, psychoanalyst, and feminist philosopher. Marion is a Descartes scholar, a Patristics aficionado, and phenomenologist. Irigaray's style marks her resistance to the traditional (masculine) philosophical speech she critiques. Marion's style is more formal. For all their differences, however, Irigaray and Marion have much in common.

Although there has been much discussion concerning the nature of Paul Ricoeur’s position on the r... more Although there has been much discussion concerning the nature of Paul Ricoeur’s position on the relationship between philosophy and theology, most of the research has revolved around Ricoeur’s hermeneutical writings and later work, to the neglect of his early pre-hermeneutical works on the subject, many of which still remain untranslated into English, proving ignorance or disinterest. To fill this gap in contemporary scholarship, I have analyzed three telling French articles on Ricoeur’s distinction between philosophy and theology and have also taken into account the way in which his early influences guided his thought, influences such as Karl Barth, Roger Mehl, Gabriel Marcel, Karl Jaspers, Edmund Husserl, and French reflexive philosophy. I have concluded that Ricoeur developed a stance on the relationship between Christianity and existentialism which articulated a common birth in Christian existential concerns but also an inherent tension, philosophy serving the task of knowledge and theology serving the task of preaching. Nonetheless, he saw this tension as a dialogue which allowed theology and philosophy to challenge and sharpen one another. Ultimately, Ricoeur’s philosophy was intended to provide believers and unbelievers alike with a philosophy logically consonant with the gospel and to intensify the Christian’s desire for the proclamation of the gospel through attention to scandalous existential questions.

Luce Irigaray (c. 1932-present) and Jean-Luc Marion (1946-present) constitute an odd pair of Fren... more Luce Irigaray (c. 1932-present) and Jean-Luc Marion (1946-present) constitute an odd pair of French philosophers. She is a linguist, psychoanalyst, and feminist philosopher. Marion is a Descartes scholar, a Patristics aficionado, and phenomenologist. Irigaray's style marks her resistance to the traditional (masculine) philosophical speech she critiques. Marion's style is more formal. For all their differences, however, Irigaray and Marion have much in common.