MARCEL GABRIEL: (1889-1973) French Philosopher, Playwright and Christian Existentialist. Widely regarded as the ...

MARCEL GABRIEL: (1889-1973) French Philosopher, Playwright and Christian Existentialist. Widely regarded as the first French Existentialist, Marcel dissociated himself from Jean-Paul Sartre, preferring to his own thought as ''Philosophy of Existence''. Rare and very interesting T.L.S., Gabriel Marcel, four pages, 4to, n.p. [Paris], n.d. [c.1946-48], to Bernard Wall, in French. The lengthy typed document, containing few corrections in Marcel´s hand, being an exceptional political & philosophical text about Europe´s unification. A premonitory thought by Marcel, stating in part `I do not hesitate when I think that under a cultural point of view the political unification of Europe is desirable. I will go even further saying that I think that if this union is not achieved gradually…it is the end not only of our culture but also of the principles which permit to give meaning to life. Because if we remain in this incoherence and disorder, we will be evidently sentenced to succumb in a relatively short time under the pressure either of the Soviet world or under America.´ Marcel further refers to Malraux, to freedom concept, to religion, anarchy, to Gugliemo Ferrero when he opposed to the world of quantity the one of quality, saying `Occidental Europe can only fight for the defence of the quality against a world of massive production´. Marcel further again refers to federalism and to Europe options of surviving after WWII, saying `We must be blind not to be convinced…the recent History is full of teaching lessons..´ Before concluding Marcel refers to Nation and Federalism, and compares Europe to a human body, again a premonitory thought, stating `.. a contagion of reason, of goodwill, of generosity. In the same way that histologically there are proliferations not only of carcinogenic cells, but also good cellular tissues to cicatrize a wound… Human being tissues are to be redone. For this reason, the narrow point of view of Nationalism must be outpaced, although this doesn´t mean to deny the Nation. On the contrary, it is very possible that the Federalism is the only way to regenerate the Nation concept, releasing it of its excessive tasks which are making it heavier and causing its sclerosis.´ An extremely interesting manifesto in favour of forgotten human values. Folded, with very small overall age wear, otherwise G