Abstract

This paper explores the philosophical writings of Hannah Arendt and Paul Ricoeur. Both scholars are linked with Continental philosophy, where Ricoeur is respected for his work on Edmund Husserl and phenomenology – areas that were formative for Professor Charlesworth. Ricoeur, Arendt and Charlesworth all shared a strong commitment to contemporary issues that integrated activism with philosophical reflection. Both of these scholars were committed to affirming life in this world. Arendt and Ricoeur did not always agree, but their respective philosophical contributions were devoted to trying to alleviate what they considered to be injustice. They were both deeply concerned by the suffering that human beings continued to inflict on their fellow creatures. This study presents both a comparison and contrast of their insights and their efforts to help humankind flourish. I dedicate this essay to Professor Max Charlesworth as a scholar who is equally as resolute as both Paul Ricoeur and Hannah Arendt in combining a wide-ranging, inclusive social vision and a passion for justice.