Dramatic Approaches to Creative Fidelity: A Study in the Theater and Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973)

Dramatic Approaches to Creative Fidelity is a unique study of the work of Gabriel Marcel, a twentieth-century philosopher of international renown. This book brings a fresh perspective to the examination of Marcel's thought, highlighting facets that are sure to interest many different audiences. Dramatic Approaches to Creative Fidelity presents a clear exposition of the nature of creative fidelity, a central theme in Marcel's life and work. The distinctive contribution of this book, however, is its illustration of how theater and philosophy are complementary in Marcel's investigation and reflective clarification of life's existential questions. Each chapter of the book studies a play and a contemporary philosophic essay and examines how they relate to clarify a particular aspect of creative fidelity. Thus, this work communicates Marcel's understanding of the nature of creative fidelity, illustrates the relationship that links theater and philosophy, and demonstrates the important role theater plays in providing a privileged way into personal philosophizing. The principal aim of this book is to introduce English-speaking audiences to Gabriel Marcel's theater. The book also intends to suggest to students, teachers, scholars, and theatrical personnel the heuristic as well as the pedagogical advantages offered by an integrated approach that sees Marcel's theater and philosophy as essentially complementary.

Table of Contents:
Part 1 Introduction by Paul Ricoeur Part 2 Foreword Part 3 Part One: Gabriel Marcel: Philosopher-Dramatist-Musician Chapter 4 Chapter I. Introduction to Gabriel Marcel's Philosophic Quest Part 5 Part Two: Dramatic Approaches to Creative Philosophy Chapter 6 Chapter II. The Unfathomable: A Search for Presence Chapter 7 Chapter III. The Lantern: and The Light of Truth Chapter 8 Chapter IV. Dot the I: An Existential Witness of the Light of Truth Chapter 9 Chapter V Rebellious Heart: and Human Creativity Chapter 10 Chapter VI. The Double Expertise: Fidelity and Infidelity Chapter 11 Chapter VII. Colombyre or the Torch of Peace: The Role of Person-Community in Living Creative Fidelity to Values Chapter 12 Chapter VIII. The Sting: Threatening the Foundations of Fidelity Chapter 13 Chapter IX. Rome Is No Longer in Rome: Challenge for Creative Incarnations of Fidelity Chapter 14 Chapter X. Conclusion: Creative Fidelity, Sketch of the Essential Features Highlighted Part 15 Part Three: Resources for Research Chapter 16 I. Biblio-biography Chapter 17 II. Parallel of Theater and Philosophy Chapter 18 III. Works by Gabriel Marcel in chronological order of composition Chapter 19 IV. Bibliographic References Chapter 20 V. Partial List of Plays Produced Chapter 21 VI. Centers of Research Part 22 Index

About the Author :
Katharine Rose Hanley holds a Ph.D. from the Higher Institute of Philosophy, Louvain University, Belgium, where she first met Gabriel Marcel in 1955. She has been a professor of philosophy at Le Moyne College since 1961. In 1975, she became the director of the Gabriel Marcel Institute of Existential Drama at Le Moyne. Hanley has authored books and numerous articles on metaphysical topics and on aspects of Marcel's thought. She has lectured to national and international audiences, such as the International Gabriel Marcel Society in Paris and the Société francaise de Philosophie at the Sorbonne. For several years, Hanley has been involved in translating and editing some of Marcel's thirty plays for English-speaking audiences and in producing some of these plays for stage and television.