Book Description
Faith and Reality, the second volume of The Mystery of Being, expands Marcel's philosophical quest for the means of transcending our "broken world" to the questions, "What is Being?" and "What is the relation of existence to religious consciousness?" Reissued by arrangement with Regnery Gateway, Inc. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A message of hope
There is another answer to the existential question- an answer full of hope and not despair. Gabriel Marcel shows us a path to the beauty of who we are and who we can become.

Intersubjectivity is the answer
There was a time in my life when I read and reread this work. This does not mean that I understood it fully. But the idea of 'intersubjectivity' and that it is through being with and understanding others that we become most truly human is one which had great influence on me. It took me away as I was looking to be taken away from a kind of philosophical solipsism a kind of sense that all should rest only in 'I' and 'I' that would prove upon reflection 'unstable as water'. Marcel is a humane thinker, one who tries to take us from the celebration of Nothingness and Death to the celebration of life in community with others. I doubt that he is read much today in the English- language world, but to my mind he is a very valuable and helpful thinker . A mensch of philosophy. ... Read more

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A Review from the Gabriel Marcel Society Newsletter
In this thin but extremely valuable book, Thomas Anderson provides a close reading of Marcel's two-volume The Mystery of Being (MB), which he considers "the most orderly, comprehensive and unified presentation by Marcel of his philosophical endeavors" (p. 9).As such, the work operates on two levels, that of a textual commentary on MB, and as an overview of Marcel's broader philosophical accomplishment.Happily, it succeeds admirably on both levels.
As a textual commentary, Anderson's work is exemplary.He clearly identifies Marcel's philosophical positions and carefully reconstructs the arguments given for them, often providing arguments from other works by Marcel when they are partially (or entirely) lacking in MB.The analysis is closely grounded in Marcel's text, and wisely relies on the superior French edition of the Gifford Lectures that the English translations occasionally truncate (see p. 124 n.1 and p. 176 n. 3 for examples).When Marcel's other works cannot offer adequate support for his position, Anderson offers original arguments or suggestions (always clearly identified as such) that capture the spirit and style of his philosophy, even when he occasionally rejects a claim or conclusion by Marcel (e.g., Marcel's claim that existence and the existent form an "indissoluble unity" is critiqued and rejected on pp. 44-45).More important yet, Anderson has the integrity (not always found in commentators) to admit when he "do[es] not understandjust what Marcel's argument is here" (p. 30), rather than to fabricate an argument in order to reject it.Throughout, the reading of MB offered by Anderson never seems forced or artificial, and frequently improves upon Marcel's original work by peeling away the frequent digressions and meandering style which can prove so frustrating to many readers.
The final result is much more than a "Cliff Notes" version of Marcel's Gifford Lectures.In the process of commenting on MB, Anderson has also produced a work that stands on its own as an intelligent, insightful and deeply informed overview of Marcel's philosophical project.For instance, the discussion of the ranges of meaning possessed by French words such as exigence (p. 17), sentir (p. 50) and espérance (p. 170) goes to the heart of Marcel's metaphysical views.These terms, which are essential for understanding Marcel's philosophy, are too often translated without explanation or nuance when they are not left untranslated by other writers.Likewise, Anderson's intimate familiarity with and constant reference to the full range of Marcel's works always illuminates not only the passage under consideration but the development of Marcel's views as well, since he is always conscious of the date of the other works and their chronological relationship to MB.Such concern for and sensitivity to the dynamic and living character of Marcel's thought, which is distilled but not embalmed in MB, makes this volume a sympathetic but critical synthesis of Marcel's entire philosophical oeuvre, and perhaps the single best point of entry for someone coming to Marcel's work for the first (or the fiftieth) time.
Anderson began his study by noting the renewed interest in Marcel's philosophy in the last decade.In his work as founding president of the Gabriel Marcel Society, he played a major role in fostering this movement.With this work -- the fruit of several decades of careful and sympathetic study of Marcel's writings -- he has also provided a study which should help ensure that this increased interest in Marcel's philosophy and its continuing relevance for Christian thought will continue.This book belongs on the shelf and in the hands of every student and teacher of Marcel.
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Customer Reviews (2)

A different view than the usual
A brilliant critique of early Existentialism. Marcel offers a very different idea of Existentialism than does the traditional Sartre school. Questionable at points, but indispensable for anyone who is interested inthe philosophy. As William Barrett stressed very clearly in his book"Irrational Man", Existentialism is not a Sartre original. It wasaround in all areas of Europe and in all different religions.

Penetrating and Original
An important work within the realm of 20th century philosophy.Marcel critiques the existentialism of Sartre, pointing out the many paradoxes and pitfalls, and then offers his own theories on ontology, metaphysics,ethics, and even psychology.It is immediately apparent that Marcel's workis daringly original, and is free from the many shortcomings found withinthe works of more "academic" philosophers.An independentscholar and dramatist, Marcel often considered his thought"neo-socratic."Never speaking from the pulpit of authority, butjoining us in true intellectual (even spiritual) inquiry, Marcel is aphilosopher's philosopher.It is unfortunate that Marcel was frequentlydismissed as dogmatic, and it is equally as unfortunate that he seldomunderstood the small plot of common ground he shared with Sartre.Inaffirming human freedom and responsibility, along with recognizing thefragility and disquietude of human existence, both Gabriel and Jean-Paulhad a common vision.Marcel's idea of problem and mystery, in addition tohis insights on dualism are essential concepts for anyone seeking tounderstand 20th century thought.This book serves as a fine introduction. ... Read more

Book Description
This important collection of lectures and essays was regarded by Gabriel Marcel as the best introduction to his thought. Notable for the richness of its analyses and its application of Marcel's "concrete approach" to philosophical problems, Creative Fidelity not only deals with the perennial themes of faith, fidelity, belief, and incarnate being, but also includes chapters on religious tolerance and orthodoxy and an important critical essay on Karl Jaspers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Maybe You Had To Have Been There
The reason for this review is to assure anyone who reads this book that there are other works by Marcel well worth their time.Creative Fidelity was a real surprise to me:rambling, disjointed, and obviously written for an audience already well familiar with Marcel's concerns.This book appeared to me to be primarily directed at Catholic clerics, with Marcel's focus being to explain his own "take" on questions of mutual interest.

This book starkly contrasts with Existentialism and with Tragic Wisdom, both of which I highly recommend.They have all the things this book lacks:clarity, coherency, and accessibility.I recommend both of those volumes; I do not recommend this book. ... Read more

Product Description
Gabriel Marcel is a master of subtle examinations of conscience, of deceit, of crises in the bourgeois milieu he has chosen to dramatize. Departig from the usual line of classical French dramaturgy, where characters desire to know, these fascinating plays are preoccupied with their characters' passionate desire to be known. Included in this collection are a preface by the author and three plays: A Man of God, Ariadne, and The Votive Candle (originally titled The Funeral Pyre). ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Buy this if you are in search of wisdom
If you buy this book...you will not be sorry. Dr. Randall's writings and reflections on Marcel are some of the best critiques of a lost art of existentialist philosophy. Having him as an instructor for may years now... for someone to read his reflections on hope in Marcel, one can really sit back and relax in life and the future. ... Read more