Jankélévitch, le virtuose : L'action. "L'important n'est pas de le dire mais de le faire"
Summary
This episode explores Vladimir Jankelevich’s philosophy of engagement, contrasting his wartime resistance through writing with the armed struggle of figures like Jean Cavallès. Host Géraldine Mullman interviews Emmanuel Kessler, Françoise Schwab, and Pierre-Alban Guinfolo to discuss Jankelevich’s critique of Sartre’s verbal activism, emphasizing the necessity of aligning words with deeds. The discussion highlights his Bergsonian influences, the primacy of moral intuition over abstract theory, and his enduring belief in youth and open society.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Jankelevich, Resistance, and the theme of engagement
Bergson's influence: The philosopher as an actor, not a spectator
Unity of word and deed: Critique of verbal engagement
Methodological shift: Observing actions rather than listening to words
Jankelevich vs. Sartre: Moral indignation and the May 68 context
Memory, pain, and the philosophy of freedom and action
Political neutrality vs. moral commitment: The Flore café debate
The virtue of words: Existence vs. concrete action
Moral action in a world of passion and contradiction
Heart vs. Reason: Jankelevich's divergence from Kant
Contemporary relevance: Democracy, war, and the state of society
Creativity, fraternity, and the ethical value of the other
Political commitments as moral exigencies, not partisan choices
Resistance networks, Catholic support, and wartime fraternity
Critique of irrationalism and the Bergson-Brunschvic debate
Evolution of thought: From romanticism to the refusal to forgive
Conclusion: The significance of texts in understanding humanity
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