Jean-Luc Marion and the Renewal of Phenomenology

Abstract

This study deals with the phenomenological turn brought about by Jean-Luc Marion, known as the “phenomenology of givenness.” It is represented in his taking phenomenology out of its narrow Husserlian angle that relies on intentionality and intuition, into a broad field that makes phenomena express themselves through their appearance and manifestation. Thus, the research was divided into an introduction and two main sections: the first section focused on defining Marion’s phenomenology of givenness, and the features of the renewal he carried out. This was done by stating that phenomenology transcends metaphysics, by reaching the radical givenness of phenomena. The second section dealt with Marion’s phenomenological turn, which is related to the fact that phenomenology is a means of describing theological phenomena, and thanks to it (phenomenology), it was possible to free theology from metaphysics. The research followed the descriptive analytical approach in order to identify the foundations of this phenomenological renewal. Marion was able to elevate phenomenology to touch on phenomena that have been at the heart of metaphysics’ concerns throughout the history of philosophy. Thanks to the method of the phenomenology of givenness, he transformed them into phenomena characterized by presence and saturated givenness and thus proves the possibility of describing it without preconditions; that is, of establishing a “list of the different levels of manifestation and givenness,” far from the methods of deducing truths from the things of the world. In this way, phenomenology undermined metaphysics, while at the same time remaining faithful to theology.