Philosophy of Gabriel Marcel in its relations with contemporary French thought

Abstract

This brief sketch of the currents and, cross-currents of contemporary French thought will, we hope, serve to illuminate many of the themes in Gabriel Marcel's doctrine which we are about to discuss, and also place this doctrine as a whole in the nexus of intellectual relationshipb from which no philosopher, least, of all an Existentialist, should be' sundered. It may also make clear that'the Existentialist movement in France is not only much more complex than would appear. to the uninitiated, but that its roots are, to a greater extent than is realised, and without discounting the obvious external, influences, in traditional French thought.