Kierkegaard in France: A History of Reception and Influence

Why does Kierkegaard's thought remain vital in French philosophy and the-ology? Kierkegaard in France traces the dynamic evolution of Kierkegaard's reception from the early 20th century to contemporary debates on faith, eth-ics, and individuality. His influence on French thought is examined anew with regard to well-known thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre, Jacques Derrida, and Paul Ricoeur, as well as readings that have largely been overlooked, like those by Simone de Beauvoir and Vladimir Jankelevitch. From existentialism and phenomenology to poststructuralism and feminism, Kierkegaard con-tinues to be an essential interlocutor in shaping the 'continental' tradition of thought in France.