O visível e o invisível: vida e morte na fenomenologia de Michel Henry

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to show the relevance of Michel Henry's thinking towards a reflection on the phenomenological meaning of life. A reflection that will question both history of philosophy and historical phenomenology, and which will implicate the very history of modern and contemporary Western society. Our presentation of Michel Henry's philosophy is divided into five sections: the question of the prerogative of Greek’s meaning of phenomenon and truth in the history of philosophy; the concept of “flesh” to the definition of life; the transcendental illusion of life through the ego; the abstraction of life or devitalization of the world, due to this illusion; and, finally, the diagnosis of the decay of life in modern Western society, as the result of this process.