Without intentionality and without self? First experience at Jean-Luc Marion

Abstract

This article is based on a paradox in JeanLuc Marion’s approach to «the reduction to givenness». The French author proposes the intentionality’s ecstasy removal, as the driving force of donation in Phenomenology. Facing this problem, this work tries to understand, first of all, the influence on Marion’s treatment of this matter, discovering its starting point in Michel Henry’s work. However, in the course of the investigation, which tries to take a look into the most relevant places of the problem treated in both Henry and Marion, come to light the evident differences that separate these two authors, especially when Marion takes into account some other proposals, seemingly opposed, to try to justify the so-called «fourth principle of Phenomenology»: «so much reduction, so much givenness». Given the problems raised in the investigation, we try to outline in conclusion a transcendental solution that make Marion’s effort compatible with Henry’s, but also Levinas’s influence. So, the approach sets out at the same time an even bigger problem for future attempts.