Gabriel Marcel's Ethics of Hope: Evil, God and Virtue

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The idea of 'hope' has received significant attention in the political sphere recently. But is hope just wishful thinking, or can it be something more than a political catch-phrase This book argues that hope can be understood existentially, or on the basis of what it means to be human. Under this conception of hope, given to us by Gabriel Marcel, hope is not optimism, but the creation of ways for us to flourish. War, poverty and an absolute reliance on technology are real-life evils that can suffocate hope. Marcel's thought provides a way to overcome these negative experiences. An ethics of hope can function as an alternative to isolation, dread, and anguish offered by most existentialists. This book presents Marcel's existentialism as a convincing, relevant moral theory; founded on the creation of hope, interwoven with the individual's response to the death of God. Jill Hernandez argues that today's reader of Marcel can resonate with his belief that the experience of pain can be transcended through a philosophy of hope and an escape from materialism.

Reviews

This book brings a new perspective to thephilosophy of Gabriel Marcel. Relying onmany new sources, Jill Graper Hernandez's analysis and application of Marcel'sethical thinking, especially his critique of materialism and his cautions abouttechnology, are timely and perceptive.Her articulation of Marcel's rich philosophy of the human person interms of a concrete, relational ethic makes this study an indispensablecontribution to recent Marcelian scholarship. -- Brendan Sweetman, Professor of Philosophy, Rockhurst University, USA
Existentiallyspeaking, if Camus is the razor-sharp diagnostician of our human plight, thenGabriel Marcel is the healing 'presence' in this irresolute situation.Jill Graper-Hernandez has written anincisive, careful and textually grounded version of Marcel's rich philosophicalgrasp of the power of hope in the midst of widespread rancor andcacophony.This book is a signalcontribution to our reflective lives. -- John J. McDermott, University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, Texas A&M University, USA
Hernandez is adept at applying Marcels ethics to a rich variety of contemporary contextsalways with reference to the personal...While Marcels ethical framework was developed in response to atrocities associated with WWI and WWII, Hernandez extends Marcels insights forward to Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Baythe Bush 41 and the Bush 43 wars...Gabriel Marcels Ethics of Hope is a much needed addition to Marcel scholarship. -- David W. Rodick, Xavier University * American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly *

Author Bio

Jill Graper Hernandez is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas at San Antonio, USA.