Paul Ricœur

Paul Ricœur was a prominent 20th-century French philosopher known for his work in hermeneutics, the study of interpretation, particularly of texts and symbols. He explored the relationship between language, meaning, and human experience, emphasizing how narratives shape our understanding of ourselves and the world. Ricœur argued that while human existence is marked by complexity and conflict, it can be understood through the stories we tell. His ideas integrate philosophy, literature, and psychology, making significant contributions to existentialism and phenomenology, thereby influencing many fields, including theology, ethics, and literary criticism.