Meaning and Reflexivity in Ricoeur's Philosophy

In this article, I investigate Ricoeur's definition of philosophy by addressing two of its most fundamental conditions: meaning, which somehow constitutes its inner material, and reflexivity, which is the principle of its dynamic articulation. I proceed in two steps. First, I distinguish five different levels of discourse, underlining the originality of each of them: descriptive, transphrastic, self-comprehensive, anthropological, metaphysical. Then I explain the role played by reflexivity, both in its intra- and inter-semiotic dimension, in delimitating these various levels and helping the transition from one to another. In conclusion, I show that the whole of Ricoeur's philosophy can be characterized by a confidence in language, in its both obstinate and cautious effort to "enlighten existence" by pushing the limits of its fontiers.