The Theme

In his encyclical Caritas in veritate (2009), Benedict XVI has emphasized that economic, social and political development, which is directed toward the common good, cannot be simply directed toward a business mindset; it must also integrate "the principle of gratuitousness and the logic of the gift" (§ 36). Benedict adds that this this demand will not be brought from the outside to the attention of the economy, rather is a desideratum of economic thinking itself.

Thanks to the gift and its furtherance in reciprocity, economic efficacy, social justice and political stability intrinsically unite. By contrast, an economic order that denies the absolute priority of the gift, would not only be a source of social injustice and political instability, but so too would ultimately annihilate itself.

The absolute priority of the gift and the givenness which is to be thought of especially from a phenomenological perspective is, since the 80s, the concern of the French philosopher Jean-Luc Marion. His main work pursuant to this concern is Étant donné. Essai d’une phénoménologie de la donation (1997); further, his second book, in which he shows that the gift is neither reducible to reciprocity nor gratuitousness itself, alongside of which it is often defined.

Much more, he suggests a radical definition of the gift according it its unconditional givenness alone.

This declaration Marion emphasizes further, especially in an article bearing the title "La raison du don“ (2003), which investigates the phenomenon of fatherhood, and in his work Certitudes négatives (2010), which assesses the phenomenon of sacrifice and forgiveness. The corresponding texts will be treated in the Master Class in the German language.

Absolute priority of the gift before reciprocity and the givenneness, before all preconditions: With this thesis from Étant donné we have at once before us one of the philosophical premisses of the encyclical Caritas in veritate. From this vantage point, the intention of the research seminar consists in the reconstrual of the philosophical argumentation that underlies this thesis, and then to confront it again with three types of development: from the view of the economy, of legal policy, and of theology. To the accomplishment of this end, the following scholars shall contribute:

• Thomas Alferi, philosopher and theologian, translator of Étant donné
• Olivier Artus, theologian (Author of Les lois du Pentateuque. Points de repère pour une lecture exégétique et théologique, Paris, Cerf, 2005)
• Elena Lasida, economist (Authoress of Le goût de l’autre. La crise, une chance pour réinventer le lien, Paris) Albin Michel, 2011
• Émilie Tardivel-Schick, Philosopher (Author of La liberté au principe. Essai sur la philosophie de Patočka, Paris, Vrin, 2011)

The Master: Prof. Dr. Jean-Luc Marion

Jean-Luc Marion, born 1946, is Professor emeritus for Philosophy at the Sorbonne (Paris IV), Professor at the Institut Catholique de Paris and Professor for the Philosophy of Religion and Theology at the University of Chicago. In 2008 he was distinguished with the Karl Jaspers' Prize and elected a member of the Académie française. Marion is among the most significant contemporary philosophers of France.

Works relevant to the class (selected):

In German translation:

Die Öffnung des Sichtbaren (2005), Das Erotische ein Phänomen (2012), Gegeben sei  (being published; here for the first time in the German language).

In English translation:

God without Being (1991), Reduction and Givenness (1998), Being Given (2002), In Excess (2002), Prolegomena to Charity (2002), In the Self’s Place (2012)

Only in French:

Certitudes négatives (2010), Figures de phénoménologie (2012)

During the Class, the German translation of the main work of Jean-Luc Marion's, Étant donné will be introduced. The translator, Prof. Dr. Thomas Alferi, will be present and, together with the composer of the work, make a significant and meaningful access to the text possible. 

By way of introduction to the work, the following text is recommended: Thomas Alferi: Worüber hinaus Größeres nicht „gegeben“ werden kann. Phänomenologie und Offenbarung nach Jean-Luc Marion (2007).

Program

Monday, 09. September 2013

Opening

18 – 20: Walter Schweidler, Thomas Alferi: General introduction

Tuesday, 10. September 2013

Philosophy

10 – 13: Thomas Alferi: Introduction to the philosophy of Jean-Luc Marion

15 – 18: Thomas Alferi: Introduction to Éttant donné.

19 – 21: Jean-Luc Marion, Thomas Alferi: Introduction to the German translation of Étant donné.
Lukas Trabert, Walter Schweidler: Introduction of the new series „Eichstätter Philosophische Studien“ published by Verlag Karl Alber (small reception during)

Wednesday, 11. September 2013

Philosophy and Economics

10 – 13: Jean-Luc Marion: Gift und Reciprocity.

15 – 18 Uhr: Elena Lasida: Economy and Solidarity

Thursday, 12. September 2013

Philosophy, law and political science

10 – 13: Jean-Luc Marion: Gift and Fatherhood.

15 – 18: Émilie Tardivel-Schick: Christian Politeia and the Common Good.

Friday, 13. September 2013

Philosophy and theology

10 – 13: Jean-Luc Marion: Gift, Sacrifice and Forgiveness.

15 – 18: Olivier Artus: The Sabbath Year in Leviticus

Saturday, 14. September 2013

Concluding meeting

10 – 12 : Jean-Luc Marion, Walter Schweidler, Thomas Alferi, Émilie Tardivel-Schick.