Meister Eckhart and New Phenomenology

The aim of this course is to examine selected works of great German mystic Johannes Eckhart. Yet, instead of studying these works in the context of medieval theology and philosophy, we intend to read them from the perspective of modern phenomenology. This approach should allow us to see surprising analogies between Eckhart’s mystical writings and some phenomenological conceptions. Besides Eckhart’s writings and sermons we will thus focus on the works of Martin Heidegger and Jean-Luc Marion, as well.

Note: Even though we will work primarily with the English translations, the German and French texts will be provided, as well.

Literature:

Eckhart, Johannes: The Complete Mystical Works of Meister Eckhart, transl. Maurice O’C Walsh, Herder & Herder 2008.

Heidegger, Martin: Existence and Being, Chicago: Henry Regnery Company 1949.

Marion, Jean-Luc: In Excess : Studies of Saturated Phenomena, transl. Robyn Horner and Vincent Berraud, New York: Fordham University Press 2002.

Marion, Jean-Luc: Reduction and Givenness : Investigations of Husserl, Heidegger, and Phenomenology, transl. Thomas A. Carlson, Evanston: Northwestern University Press 1998.