Ricoeur, Paul

(1913– )

French existentialist, theologian, philosopher, and literary critic. Born in Valence, Ricoeur was educated in the existentialist and phenomenological traditions. Captured in the Second World War, he became familiar with the work of Husserl, Heidegger, and Jaspers. In 1948 Ricoeur became professor at Strasbourg, and from 1957 was professor at the university of Paris-X, Nanterre, and his travels included a post at the university of Chicago. In the French tradition Ricoeur's work is wide-ranging and difficult, but includes a welcome stress on the humility necessary to the pursuit of truth. His works include the series under the general title Philosophie de la volonté (‘Philosophy of the Will’); vol. i, Le Volontaire et l’involontaire (1950, trs. as Freedom and Nature: the Voluntary and the Involuntary, 1966); vol. ii, Finitude et culpabilité (‘Finitude and Blame’) part I, L’Homme faillible, trs. as Fallible Man (1965); and part II, La Symbolique du mal (trs. as The Symbolism of Evil, 1967).