The Selected Writings of Louis Lavelle
translated by Robert Jones
Louis Lavelle (1883-1951)
—French philosopher, especially popular in France during the 30’s and 40’s of the last century. Many of his writings, like his articles in the Paris Times (Le Temps) and his book Self-Consciousness (La conscience de soi), seem to have been intended mainly for popular consumption. His major philosophical opus is The Dialectic of the Eternal Present (La Dialectique de l’éternal présent), the second volume of which—Of the Act (De l’Acte)—is often considered his central work. It appears in full for the first time in English translation on this website.
Like his German contemporary, Martin Heidegger, Lavelle’s focus is Being. But unlike Heidegger, he treats Being in religious terms, consistent with his Catholic faith. At the same time his penetrating observations can stand alone as insights valid for every reader.
The Act of Presence
Of the Act
The Selected Writings of Robert Jones
Original Works
The Selected Poetry of Robert Jones
Haiku Nature
Other Haiku and Renga
Robert Alan Jones (b. 1945)
—American-born Australian poet, novelist, translator and author of texts on comparative literature. His works have appeared in America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, France and Romania.
A longtime teacher of aikido and mindfulness meditation, he is also an ardent conservationist and has maintained the Mission Beach arboretum for twenty years.