Interview with Oliva Blanchette on Maurice Blondel: A philosophical life, by Oliva Blanchette

Abstract

French philosopher Maurice Blondel (1861-1949) had a tremendous impact on both philosophy and religion in the twentieth century. He was at once a postmodern critical philosopher and a devout traditional Catholic who strove to keep these two sides of his life in unison, neither separating nor confusing them. In this first-ever critical examination of Blondel's entire life and work, Oliva Blanchette tells of Blondel's stormy confrontations with an academy dismissive of religion and a religion uncomfortable with rational philosophy. The book, which was honored with a first place 2011 Catholic Book Award in the category of biography by the Catholic Press Association, recounts both Blondel's biographical history and his systematic philosophy in meticulous detail.