Abstract

MORATALLA, Tomás Domingo. Is Paul Ricoeur a Phenomenologist? Between Phenomenology and Hermeneutics. Escritos - Fac. Filos. Let. Univ. Pontif. Bolivar. [online]. 2018, vol.26, n.57, pp.251-282. ISSN 0120-1263.  https://doi.org/10.18566/escr.v26n57.a02.

The article aims to show in what sense Paul Ricoeur's philosophy might be considered, from beginning to end, a phenomenology. Therefore, I argue that phenomenology is not only a stage in his thought that is overcome by his following philosophical encounters. I do not find satisfactory the picture that has been presented of his philosophical itinerary, which he himself agreed with, by saying that he starts "from" phenomenology and goes "to" hermeneutics. Regarding such picture, I strongly support the idea of "between" as a philosophical position: "between" phenomenology and hermeneutics. Ricoeur is both a phenomenologist and a hermeneutist. His phenomenological commitment leads him to hermeneutics and his way of practicing hermeneutics can only be understood from the standpoint of phenomenology. Ricoeur is a phenomenologist by choice and a hermeneutist by fate. For a correctly understanding of Ricoeur's relation to phenomenology, the great variety of his writings on phenomenology and hermeneutics is considered, bearing in mind his phenomenological and hermeneutical attitude not only in his major works, but also in his short introductions and dissertations concerning phenomenology. I argue that the collection of writings A l’école de la phenomenologie turns out to be crucial for this issue. It is concluded that Ricoeur's philosophy has a triple composition: reflexive, descriptive and interpretative. Reflexive philosophy, phenomenology and hermeneutics are three ways of doing philosophy. In the thought or Ricoeur they are joined, complemented and strengthened. It is possible to argue that for him phenomenology is reflexive, descriptive and interpretative. Being with Ricoeur in the school of phenomenology means being in the own path of philosophy, of which each one of us should practice up to the expectations of the time and according to our own circumstances.

Keywords : Oneself; Sense; Interpretation; Phenomenology; Hermeneutics.

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