The experience of love and its discourse: Marion’s phenomenology and mysticism Cover Image

Skúsenosť lásky a jej diskurz: Marionova fenomenológia a mystika
The experience of love and its discourse: Marion’s phenomenology and mysticism

Author(s): Martin Vašek
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Philosophy, Language and Literature Studies, Studies of Literature, Philosophical Traditions, Theology and Religion, French Literature, Phenomenology
Published by: Ústav svetovej literatúry, Slovenská akadémia vied
Keywords: Jean-Luc Marion; Phenomenology; Mystics; Saturated Phenomena; Love; Philosophy of Religion

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this article is to approach the proximity of Jean-Luc Marion’s phenomenology to mysticism. Marion’s transcendence to mysticism can be seen in two directions: in the interpretation of Dionysius the Areopagite’s work, and in the understanding of saturated phenomena. Marion claims that Dionysius the Areopagite indicates a new pragmatic function of language, targeting God who overcomes all the names. The discourse of hymn and praise of God does not lie in predicting attributes (positive or negative). It is not a masked prediction, but it is outside the dual framework of true and false. Marion also believes that man, as an image of God, is not equal to his icon. His reflections can be understood and interpreted in such a way that two incomprehensible and loving beings come together in the encounter of God and man. Here we can see the first condition, assumption and the very possibility of mysticism as such. The intersections of phenomenology and literature are obvious, but phenomenology still remains both an invitation and a challenge for literary theory.

  • Issue Year: 12/2020
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 106-120
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: Slovak