In 1974, thirty-year-old philosopher and translator David Farrell Krell began corresponding and meeting with Martin Heidegger and Hannah Arendt. Years later, he would meet Jacques Derrida and, through many letters and visits, come to know him well. Drawing on unpublished correspondence and Krell's warmly told personal recollections, Three Encounters presents an intimate and highly insightful look at the lives and ideas of three noted philosophers at the peak of their careers.

Three Encounters offers a chance for readers to encounter these three great philosophers and their ideas, not merely through the lens of their biographies, but as "people" we come to know through their personal correspondence and Krell's recollections. Three Encounters demonstrates the intertwining of thought and lived experience.

About the Author

David Farrell Krell is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at DePaul University, Chicago, and Brauer Distinguished Visiting Professor of German Studies at Brown University, Providence, RI. He also teaches at the University of Freiburg, Germany. His scholarly books include The Sea: A Philosophical Encounter, The Cudgel and the Caress: Reflections on Cruelty and Tenderness, The Tragic Absolute: German Idealism and the Languishing of God . He has also published a number of translations, short stories, and three novels.

Reviews

"In the tradition of Continental Philosophy, Heidegger, Arendt, and Derrida loom large, and Krell is perhaps unique in having had personal relationships with all three. The reader comes away from this book with vivid pictures of these philosophers. We learn not only about aspects of their professional lives, but also about them as people at the times Krell knew them. A delight to read."-Samir Haddad, Fordham University

"The text brims with philosophical ideas from the three thinkers-as well as from Nietzsche, whose presence shadows much of the narrative-and these ideas are presented clearly and discussed in ways that are invariably illuminating. The prose flows beautifully, with frequent sparkles of wit and erudite humour. The interweaving of ideas and themes with engaging anecdotes is judicious and nuanced. I found the entire account enthralling."-Graham Parkes, University of Vienna

Book Information
ISBN 9780253065544
Author David Farrell Krell
Format Paperback
Page Count 358
Imprint Indiana University Press
Publisher Indiana University Press