Abstract

Bastide offers a philosophy of value upon the foundations of French idealism, and a continuation of the strong French tradition of spiritualism and personalistic idealism. Koenig devotes special attention to the foundation of Bastide’s position in Descartes and Kant. In a typically French manner Bastide’s philosophical reflection is rooted in the Cartesian Cogito: it is Cartesian philosophy interpreted for systematic purposes, thereby developing the profound connection between Descartes and the French spiritualistic movement. In Descartes the immediate contact with being is lost, realism is thereby undermined, and modern man and modern philosophy are forced to build upon subjectivity. Such self reflection is the direct road to spiritualism and idealism. In spite of many differences, this concern with the authentic spirit is developed further by a Kantian idealism. Koenig also devotes special attention to the more recent French scene, primarily Brunschvicg and Bergson, for Bastide draws heavily upon both, especially the former. Special attention is also given to the philosophy of spirit as developed by Le Senne and Lavelle, and to the philosophy of reflection as developed by Nabert. The reader is thus helpfully introduced to a significant strain of contemporary European thought parallel to, but critical of, the phenomenological and existential traditions which have come to represent European philosophy. Here is European French philosophy which is neither Marxist nor phenomenological.