Félix Ravaisson-Mollien

Jean-Gaspard-Félix Laché Ravaisson-Mollien (French: [ʁavɛsɔ̃ mɔljɛ̃]; 23 October 1813 – 18 May 1900) was a French philosopher, 'perhaps France's most influential philosopher in the second half of the nineteenth century'.[1] He was originally and remains more commonly known as Félix Ravaisson.[2]

Felix Ravaisson-Mollien
Born23 October 1813
Namur, France
Died18 May 1900 (1900-05-19) (aged 86)
Paris, France
EducationCollège Rollin
Alma materUniversity of Munich
Era19th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolContinental philosophy
French spiritualism
InstitutionsUniversity of Rennes
Main interests
Metaphysics
Positive philosophy
Notable ideas
Criticism of French eclecticism

His 'seminal' 'key' work was De l’habitude (1838), translated in English as Of Habit.[3][2][4] Ravaisson's philosophy is in the tradition of French Spiritualism, which was initiated by Pierre Maine de Biran (1766–1824) with the essay "The Influence of Habit on the Faculty of Thinking" (1802). However, Ravaisson developed his doctrine as what he called 'spiritualist realism' and 'spiritualist positivism', and – according to Ravaisson scholar Mark Sinclair – can be thought of as founding 'the school of contingency'.[5] His most well known and influential successor was Henri Bergson, with whom the tradition can be seen to end during the 1930s;[1] although the 'lineage' of this 'philosophy of life' can be seen to return in the late twentieth century with Gilles Deleuze.[4] Ravaisson never worked in the French state university system, in his late 20s declining a position at the University of Rennes.[6] In 1838 he was employed as the principle private secretary to the Minister of Public Instruction, going on to secure high-ranking positions such as Inspector General of Libraries, and then the Curator of Classical Antiquities at the Louvre.[7] Later in his life he was appointed as the President of the Jury of the Aggregation of philosophy in France, 'a position of considerable influence'.[8] Ravaisson, was not only a philosopher, classicist, archivist, and educational administrator, but also a painter exhibiting under the name Laché.[7]

Biography
A portrait of Félix Ravaisson by Théodore Chassériau
Félix Ravaisson by Théodore Chassériau (1846)

Ravaisson was born at Namur. After a successful course of study at the Collège Rollin, he went to Munich in autumn 1839, where he attended the lectures of Schelling, and took his degree in philosophy in 1836. In the following year he published the first volume of his famous work Essai sur la métaphysique d'Aristote ("Essay on the Metaphysics of Aristotle"), to which in 1846 he added a supplementary volume. This work not only criticizes and comments on the theories of Aristotle and the Peripatetics, but also develops from them a modern philosophical system.[9]

In 1838 he received his doctorate, his thesis entitled "De l'habitude" ("On Habit"), which was to become a classic text (a metaphysical 'poem' on nature in general apprehended through an intuitive analysis of acquired habit as a particular manifestation of its essential being, much admired by Bergson and Heidegger), and became professor of philosophy at Rennes. From 1840 he was inspector-general of public libraries, and in 1860 became inspector-general in the department of higher education. He was also a member of the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, and curator of the Department of Antiquities at the Louvre (from 1870). He died in Paris in 1900.[9]

Philosophical work

In philosophy, he was one of the school of Victor Cousin, with whom he was at issue in many important points. The act of consciousness, according to him, is the basis of all knowledge. Acts of consciousness are manifestations of will, which is the motive and creative power of the intellectual life. The idea of God is a cumulative intuition given by all the various faculties of the mind, in its observation of harmony in nature and in man. This theory had considerable influence on speculative philosophy in France during the later years of the 19th century.[9]

Bibliography

Ravaisson's 'complete' 'three major' philosophical works are: Essai sur la métaphysique d’Aristote [Vol. 1 & Vol. 2] (1837 and 1846); De l’habitude (On Habit, 1838); and Rapport sur la philosophie en France au XIXeme siècle (1867).[10][11] Ravaisson also produced a number of other 'noteworthy essays' such as "La Philosophie contemporaine" ("Contemporary Philosophy", 1840); "La Philosophie de Pascale" ("Pascal’s Philosophy", 1887), and "Métaphysique et Morale" ("Metaphysics and Morals", 1893).[12] Upon his death he also 'left unfinished fragments of a major work, which were published posthumously', first as "Testament philosophique" in Revue de métaphysique et de morale ("Philosophical Testament", 1901), then later in extended form as Testament philosophique (Philosophical Testament, 1933).[12][13]

Year Title Original Publication Details English Title English Publication Details
1834 De la Métaphysique d’Aristote Unpublished competition manuscript.[a]
Selections in De la nature à l’esprit, 2001.[b]
1837 Essai sur la Métaphysique d’Aristote [Vol. 1][c] Paris: Imprimerie Royale, 1837.[d]
1838 De l’habitude Sorbonne doctoral thesis (primary).[e]
Paris: H. Fournier, 1838.[f]		 Of Habit (1) Trans. C Carlisle & M Sinclair:[g] Of Habit, London & New York: Continuum, 2008.[h]
(2) Updated trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 31–58.[i]
1838 Speusippi de Primis Rerum Principiis Placita Qualia Fuisse Videantur ex Aristotele Sorbonne doctoral thesis (secondary) [In Latin].[j]
Translated into French in 2012.[k]
1840 "La Philosophie contemporaine: Fragments de philosophie par M. Hamilton" in La Revue des deux mondes, 1840, p.397–427. "Contemporary Philosophy" Trans. J Dunham: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 59–84.[l]
1845 Essai sur la Métaphysique d’Aristote [Vol. 2][m] Paris: Joubert, 1845.
1854 De l’enseignement du dessin dans les lycées[n] Paris: Dupont, 1854. "The Art of Drawing According to Leonardo da Vinci"
[Part trans.][o]		 Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 145–58
1856 "Mémoire sur le Stoïcisme"[p] in Mémoires de l'Institut Impériale de France, Académie des Inscriptions et Belle-Lettres, vol. XXI, 1857, p. 1-94. "Essay on Stoicism" Trans. A Efal and M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 85-144.
1867 La Philosophie en France au XIXème siècle[q] Paris: Hachette, 1867.
1871 Venus de Milo [Version 1][r] Paris: Hachette, 1871.[s]
1875 Les classiques de l'art: modèles pour l'enseignemnet du dessin Paris: Rapilly, 1875[t]
1880 "Les monuments funéraires des Grecs"[u] in Revue politique et littéraire. Revue blue, 10 April 1880, vol. XVIII, p. 963-70. "Greek Funerary Monuments" Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 229-242.
1882 "L'enseignement du dessin d'après M. F. Ravaisson" in Dictionnaire de pedagogie et d'instruction primaire Vol. 1, 1882; Paris: Hachette, p. 671-84.[v] "On the Teaching of Drawing"[w] Trans. T Viola and M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 159-188.
1887 "La Philosophie de Pascale" in La Revue des deux mondes 80, 1887, p. 399–428. "Pascal’s Philosophy"[x] Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 253–78.
1892 "Les mystères. Fragment d'une étude sur l'histoire des religions" in Revue politique et littéraire. Revue blue, 19 March 1892, p. 362-6. "Mysteries: Fragment of a Study of the History of Religion"[y] Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 243-252.
1892 La Venus de Milo [Version 2][z] in Mémoires de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belle-Lettres, vol. XXXIV, Part 1, 1892, p. 145-256.
also as off-prints by Klincksieck: Paris, 1892.		 "Venus de Milo"
[Part trans.][aa]		 Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 189-228.
1893 "Métaphysique et morale" in Revue de métaphysique et morale 1, 1893, 6–25.[bb] "Metaphysics and Morals" Trans. M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 279–94.
1901 "Testament philosophique" [Original][cc] Ed. Xavier Léon in Revue de métaphysique et de morale 9/1, 1901, p. 1–31.
1933 Testament philosophique [Expanded][cc] Ed. Charles Devivaise. Paris: Boivin, 1933. "Philosophical Testament" Trans. J Dunham and M Sinclair: Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, 2016, p. 295–336.
Notes
  • a ^ Sinclair in Being Inclined: 'In 1834' when 21 years of age, Ravaisson 'was the remarkably young laureate of a competition organized by the Académie des sciences morales et politiques on Aristotle's Metaphysics and its historical reception, with a dissertation - De la Métaphysique d’Aristote - that he would later publish in a revised and expanded form as Essai sur la Métaphysique d’Aristote [Volume 1] (1837).[6] See also Sinclair 'Introduction' in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[14]
  • b ^ Sinclair in Being Inclined: 'Long sections of' De la Métaphysique d’Aristote 'with the original pagination in the margins, are published in R. Belay and C. Marin, De la nature à l’esprit (Paris: ENS Editions, 2001), 201–13.'[15]
  • c ^ Revised and expanded version of Ravaisson's 1834 prize winning essay De la Métaphysique d’Aristote.[6]
  • d ^ See Sinclair in Being Inclined.[10]
  • e ^ See Sinclair in Being Inclined.[15]
  • f ^ See Sinclair's Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[16]
  • g ^ As well as translating the text, Carlisle and Sinclair also included two extensive supplements by way of an "Editors’ Introduction" and "Editors’ Commentary".[17] In addition, there is a long preface from Catherine Malabou titled "Addiction and Grace".
  • h ^ This publication is a bilingual edition of the text and presents both De l’habitude and the translation by Carlisle and Sinclair (Of Habit) on facing pages of the book. The French version is the Alcan edition of 1933.[18]
  • i ^ Sinclair writes that the translation has been modified since the original translation by Carlisle and himself a few years earlier in Félix Ravaisson Of Habit (London/New York: Continuum, 2008).[16]
  • j ^ See Sinclair in Being Inclined.[10]
  • k ^ Translated as La doctrine de Speusippe sur les premiers principes selon le témoignage d'Aristote in Cahiers Philosophiques (n°129, 2ème trimestre), 2012; p. 68–96. Translation by Alain Petit, preceded by an introduction from Petit titled "Le symptôme Speusippe: le spectre de l’émanatisme dans la pensée métaphysique de Ravaisson" (2012).[19]
  • l ^ See also Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[20]
  • m ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[21] Sinclair points out that this second volume developed (but did not repeat) work from his 1834 prize winning essay De la Métaphysique d’Aristote (1834) which had been revised and expanded in volume one (1837). Sinclair also mentions that a third and fourth volume were planned, but never came to fruition. In a footnote, however, Sinclair continues that Charles Devivaise 'published some of Ravaisson's work towards the third volume as Essai sur la Metaphysique d'Aristote: Fragments du Tome III (Paris: Vrin, 1953)'.[22]
  • n ^ This published text originally appeared as "Rapport addressé à M. le ministre de l’Instruction publique et des cultes" (28 December 1853).[16] See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[23]
  • o ^ This translation is of the first 'untitled' segment of the text.[16] In a footnote, Sinclair writes: 'For reasons of economy, I follow Dominique Janicaud in L'Art et les mystères grecs (Paris: L'Herne, 1985) in producing just the first section of the report, but I alter his title L'Art et le dessin d'après Léonard da Vinci.'[24]
  • p ^ Original version presented as a paper to the Académie des Insciptions et Belle-Lettres in 1849 then 1851; this version extended for publication. See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[25] Published in 1856 with a cover date of 1877.[16][26]
  • q ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[27]
  • r ^ The first of two versions, the second reworked edition published in 1892. See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[28]
  • s ^ Publication details.[29]
  • t ^ Originally written in 1854, and not published for 20 years. See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[30] Sinclair also has a footnote with further details.[24]
  • u ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[31]
  • v ^ This article was one of several that appeared under the heading "Dessin"; the volume was edited by Ferdinand Buisson.[16][32]
  • w ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[23]
  • x ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[33]
  • y ^ See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[34]
  • z ^ The second of two versions, the first edition was published in 1871, and was subsequently reworked in this much later publication. See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[28]
  • aa ^ The translation here is only part of the original article, the third and final section (p. 188-256).[16]
  • bb ^ Specially commissioned lead essay for the first issue of the journal.[16] See Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[35]
  • cc ^ ^ Posthumous publications from notes:[13] see Sinclair's commentary in "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays.[36]

References

Notes
  1. Sinclair (2019), p. 1
  2. Sinclair (2016), p. 1
  3. Carlisle (2010), p. 125
  4. Grosz (2013), p. 219
  5. Sinclair (2019), p. 9–10
  6. Sinclair (2019), p. 7
  7. Sinclair (2019), p. 8
  8. Sinclair (2019), p. 9
  9. Chisholm 1911.
  10. Sinclair (2019), p. 6
  11. Carlisle & Sinclair (2008), p. 4-5
  12. Carlisle & Sinclair (2008), p. 5
  13. Sinclair (2016), p. vii
  14. Sinclair (2016), p. 2-3
  15. Sinclair (2019), p. xi
  16. Sinclair (2016), p. vi
  17. Carlisle & Sinclair (2008), p. 1-21; 78-114
  18. Carlisle & Sinclair (2008), p. 20
  19. "Ravaisson, la doctrine de Speusippe sur les premiers principes selon le témoignage d'Aristote". Cahiers Philosophiques. 2012. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  20. Sinclair (2016), p. 8-9
  21. Sinclair (2016), p. 3-4
  22. Sinclair (2016), p. 25
  23. Sinclair (2016), p. 11-12
  24. Sinclair (2016), p. 27
  25. Sinclair (2016), p. 10-11
  26. Sinclair (2016), p. 11
  27. Sinclair (2016), p. 13-15
  28. Sinclair (2016), p. 15-18
  29. Sinclair (2016), p. 28
  30. Sinclair (2016), p. 12-13
  31. Sinclair (2016), p. 18
  32. Sinclair (2016), p. 12
  33. Sinclair (2016), p. 19-20
  34. Sinclair (2016), p. 18-19
  35. Sinclair (2016), p. 20-21
  36. Sinclair (2016), p. 21-22

Sources

Primary

  • Sinclair, Mark. Being Inclined: Félix Ravaisson’s Philosophy of Habit (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019)

Secondary

  • Carlisle, Clare. "Between Freedom and Necessity: Félix Ravaisson on Habit and the Moral Life", in Inquiry (43/2: 2010), p. 123–45
  • Carlisle, Clare and Mark Sinclair. "Editors’ Introduction" and "Editors’ Commentary" in Félix Ravaisson Of Habit, translation, introduction, and commentary by Clare Carlisle and Mark Sinclair (London/New York: Continuum, 2008), p. 1-21; 78-114
  • This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Ravaisson-Mollien, Jean Gaspard Félix". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 922.
  • Grosz, Elizabeth. "Habit Today: Ravaisson, Bergson, Deleuze and Us", in Body and Society (19/2–3: 2013), p. 217–39
  • Malabou, Catherine. "Addiction and Grace: Preface to Félix Ravaisson’s Of Habit" in Félix Ravaisson Of Habit, translation, introduction, and commentary by Clare Carlisle and Mark Sinclair (London/New York: Continuum, 2008), p. vii-xx
  • Sinclair, Mark. "Introduction" in Félix Ravaisson: Selected Essays, edited by Mark Sinclair; translated by Jeremy Dunham, Adi Efal, Mark Sinclair, Tullio Viola (London: Bloomsbury, 2016), p. 1-29
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