Phenomenologies of Incarnation in Michel Henry and Emmanuel Falque

Saving Flesh, Redeeming Body

Phenomenologies of Incarnation in Michel Henry and Emmanuel Falque cover

Phenomenologies of Incarnation in Michel Henry and Emmanuel Falque

Saving Flesh, Redeeming Body

Description

Bringing Michel Henry and Emmanuel Falque into dialogue, Mark Novak explores how they both articulate a phenomenology of the body and flesh in relation to incarnation and resurrection.

As key proponents of the 'theological turn' in phenomenology, this volume illustrates how philosophical foundations inform Henry and Falque's theological views and uncovers the differences, and in some cases, surprising similarities between the two thinkers' positions on these central Christian tenets.

Beginning with a succinct overview of the origins of phenomenology and the shift towards embodiment, Novak surveys a number of different theories from Husserl's foundational distinction between flesh (Leib) and body (Körper) to Merleau-Ponty, Maine de Biran and Dominique Janicaud. With this, focus turns to Henry and Falque. Methodically examining each thinker's key texts on flesh and the body, Novak proposes that their views on resurrection and the incarnation are not as different as philosophers might think. Even despite Falque's claim that Henry's views on the incarnation neglect materiality by understanding the human being as flesh, Novak demonstrates how Falque's critical response to Henry's idea ironically mirrors it. By turning to material forces to better describe the body in his recent work, Falque recapitulates Henry's understanding of flesh.

Phenomenologies of Incarnation in Michel Henry and Emmanuel Falque provides a much-needed introduction to the phenomenology of embodiment and its important implications for philosophical theology.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. Husserl, Merleau-Ponty, and Body and Flesh in Phenomenology
2. Tracing the Contours of the Theological Turn of French Phenomenology
3. Life and World in Michel Henry
4. Flesh and Bones in Emmanuel Falque
Conclusion
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 13 Nov 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 288
ISBN 9781350421325
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Mark Novak

Mark Novak is a Sessional instructor in Philosophy…

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