«La conscience est espace». Metafisica e spazialità in Jean Wahl

This essay examines Jean Wahl’s metaphysics, focusing on the pivotal role of space in his thought. It begins by outlining Wahl’s intellectual background and highlighting his openness to diverse philosophical traditions. The essay then addresses Wahl’s key philosophical problem: how to conceive a metaphysics that integrates individual existence with external reality. The core of the analysis explores the relationship between consciousness and space, starting from Wahl’s idea that consciousness is inherently spatial. The essay demonstrates how Wahl uses this notion of space to frame the transition from the separation to the reconciliation of existence in relation to reality. Finally, it reveals how Wahl’s concept of concrete unity emerges through the dialectical interplay between consciousness and the external world, offering a metaphysical framework that seeks to unite the individual and the world without dissolving their differences.