Paul Ricoeur is one of the giants of contemporary continental philosophy and one of the most enduring and wide-ranging thinkers in the twentieth century, publishing major works ranging from existentialism and phenomenology to psychoanalysis, politics, religion and the theory of language. Richard Kearney offers a critical engagement with the work of Ricoeur, beginning with a general introduction to his hermeneutic philosophy. Part one explores some of the main themes in Ricouer's thought under six headings: phenomenology and hermeneutics; language and imagination; myth and tradition; ideology and utopia; evil and alterity; poetics and ethics. The second part comprises five dialogical exchanges which Kearney has conducted with Ricoeur over the last three decades (1977-2003), charting and explaining his intellectual itinerary. This book is aimed at a broad student readership as well as the general intelligent reader interested in knowing more about one of the most enduring major figures in contemporary continental philosophy.

Contents: Introduction: Ricoeur's philosophical journey; Part 1: Between phenomenology and hermeneutics; Between imagination and language; Between myth and tradition; Between ideology and utopia; Between good and evil; Between poetics and ethics. Part 2: Myth as the bearer of possible worlds; The creativity of language; Universality and the power of difference; Imagination, testimony, and trust; On life stories. Conclusion; Select bibliography of works by Paul Ricoeur; Index.