1001Philosophers

Maurice Blondel 1861 – 1949

Maurice Blondel (1861 – 1949) was a French philosopher of the Contemporary era, associated with Christian Philosophy and Continental Philosophy.

Maurice Blondel was a French Catholic philosopher and the principal architect of the philosophy of action. Long-time professor at Aix-en-Provence, he produced his foundational dissertation L'Action in 1893 and continued to develop and defend its central insight in a long series of works including the late trilogy Thought, Being, and Action. He argued that the dynamism of human willing, fully thought through, opens onto questions that finite resources cannot resolve and so points to the need for the supernatural without compromising the autonomy of philosophical inquiry. His thought shaped the nouvelle theologie and prepared the way for Vatican II.

Key facts

Nationality
French
Era
Contemporary
Movements
Christian Philosophy, Continental Philosophy

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Maurice Blondel:

    “Every act, fully thought through, opens onto the absolute.”

  • Attributed to Maurice Blondel:

    “What we will is more than what we say we will.”

  • Attributed to Maurice Blondel:

    “Action is the meeting place of God and the human.”

  • Attributed to Maurice Blondel:

    “The supernatural is the destiny of natural human aspiration.”

  • Attributed to Maurice Blondel:

    “Truth is what we do, not just what we know.”

Frequently asked about Maurice Blondel

When did Maurice Blondel live?
Maurice Blondel was born in 1861 and died in 1949.
Where was Maurice Blondel from?
Maurice Blondel was a French philosopher of the Contemporary era.
What philosophical movements is Maurice Blondel associated with?
Maurice Blondel was associated with Christian Philosophy and Continental Philosophy.
What was Maurice Blondel known for?
Maurice Blondel was a French Catholic philosopher and the principal architect of the philosophy of action.
How many quotes are attributed to Maurice Blondel?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Maurice Blondel in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.