Gaëlle Fiasse
Associate Professor. Department of Philosophy. Joint position with the School of Religious Studies.
B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Philosophy Summa cum laude (Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium)
Ancient Philosophy (Aristotle), Contemporary European Philosophy, Paul Ricoeur; Relationship between Philosophy and Christianity.
Specific Themes of Research:
Friendship, Forgiveness (FQRSC), Fragility (SSHRC),Ethics and Hermeneutics; Spiritual and sexual abuse of adults in the church and in other institutions.
Research
Research areas
Ethics
Ancient Philosophy (Aristotle)
Contemporary Continental Ethics (Paul Ricœur)
Theological Ethics (Christianity)
Interdisciplinary research
Philosophy, Religious Studies, Political Science, Bioethics
Research interests and current research projects
In terms of the history of philosophy and ethics, Professor Fiasse is a specialist in Aristotle and Paul Ricœur. She is one of the correspondents in Canada for the Fonds Ricœur (the center of research for Ricœur’s studies in Paris).
Her research, publications, and interdisciplinary collaborations focus on the interpersonal relationship as a foundational element of morality. Situated within a relational understanding of ethics, her work investigates the ways in which our encounters with others inform the formation of values, and the creation of meaning. She has written extensively on themes such as friendship, otherness, justice, forgiveness, fragility, and imagination, highlighting their significance for ethical life and human coexistence. Through these inquiries, she advances a vision of ethics grounded in relationality, responsibility, and the transformative potential of human interaction.
In addition to her work on relational ethics, she has examined the distortions and breakdowns of human relationships, particularly through her engagement with the problem of evil in the philosophy of Paul Ricœur. Her more recent research has focused on spiritual and sexual abuse of adults within asymmetrical relationships characterized by proximity, vulnerability, and authority, including ecclesial settings, academia, competitive sports, and therapeutic contexts. Her research investigates the distortions of theories of friendship, philosophical and theological concepts, and scriptural interpretations that have contributed to the justification of abuse. Through this work, she investigates the ethical, psychological, and institutional dynamics that enable abuse and hinder recognition of harm. Her most recent book has become an important reference for understanding the abuse of adults in the Church, offering a nuanced analysis of mechanisms of domination, manipulation, and betrayal of trust, while contributing to broader discussions on prevention and accountability.
In parallel to her philosophical analysis, Professor Fiasse studies these themes in religious ethics. She explores how philosophers (Paul Ricœur, Hannah Arendt, Vladimir Jankélévitch, Jacques Derrida) use notions important to the Christian tradition such as love and forgiveness.
She analyses how they understand friendship, the relationship with other people and the notions of desire and will. Among those in the philosophical tradition that she focuses on are Augustine, Aquinas, and Kierkegaard. She is also very interested in the mystical tradition, especially female mystics such as Thérèse d'Avila, Thérèse de Lisieux, and Edith Stein. She also pays particular attention to the invocation of friendship in inter-religious dialogue (for example, by Charles de Foucauld, Christian de Chergé and Pierre Claverie as regards the relationship with Islam).
Professor Fiasse is also the liaison for the program in bioethics. She has done research on the pact of care between a physician and a patient, the notion of human dignity, and the respect for the more vulnerable people in society.
I have published several books, Communion, Fusion, Confusion. Les abus d'adultes dans l'Église et ailleurs (Montreal, Mediaspaul, 2025); Amour et Fragilité. Regards philosophiques au cœur de l'humain (Québec, Presses Universitaires de Laval, 2015; Paris, Hermann, 2016); L'autre et l'amitié chez Aristote et Paul Ricœur. Analyses éthiques et ontologiques (Louvain: Peeters, 2006) and one collective book, Paul Ricœur. De l'homme faillible à l'homme capable (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 2008) , that includes essays from some of the most recognized scholars in Ricœurian Studies, Phenomenology and Hermeneutics from Europe and North America.
Books and monographs
G. Fiasse, Communion, fusion, confusion. Les abus d’adultes dans l’Église et ailleurs. Montreal, Médiaspaul, 2025.
G. Fiasse, Amour et Fragilité, Regards philosophiques au cœur de l'humain, Québec, Presses Universitaires de Laval, 2015; Paris, Hermann, 2016.
http://www.pulaval.com/produit/amour-et-fragilite-regards-philosophiques-au-coeur-de-l-humain
G. Fiasse, Paul Ricœur. De l'homme faillible à l'homme capable, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France (Débats philosophiques), 2008.
https://www.puf.com/content/Paul_Ric%C5%93ur_De_lhomme_faillible_%C3%A0_lhomme_capable
Translated in Spanish: Paul Ricœur. Del hombre falible al hombre capaz, coord. Gaëlle Fiasse. Buenos Aires: Nueva vision, 2009.
G. Fiasse, L'autre et l'amitié chez Aristote et Paul Ricoeur. Analyses éthiques et ontologiques, Louvain: Peeters, Éditions de l'Institut supérieur de Philosophie (Bibliothèque philosophique de Louvain, 69), 2006.
http://www.peeters-leuven.be/boekoverz.asp?nr=8079
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G. Fiasse, “Just distance in Interaction. Asymmetries and Abuses”, in From Vulnerability to Promise in Ricoeur: Perspectives from Women Philosophers, directed by Beatriz Contreiras and Sophie Jan-Arrien, New York, Lexington, 2025.
G. Fiasse, “Ricœur”, in Encyclopedia of Phenomenology, directed by Nicolas de Warren and Ted Toadvine (Springer), 2025, 9 pages. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47253-5_66-1.
G. Fiasse, “L'incognito du pardon à soi-même chez Ricœur”, in Le pardon dans tous ses états, directed by Lorraine Angeneau, Guilhem Causse, Paris, Éditions Facultés jésuites de Paris, 2024, 121-132.
G. Fiasse, “Ricœur”, in Encyclopedia of Phenomenology, directed by Nicolas de Warren and Ted Toadvine (Springer), 2025, 9 pages. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-47253-5_66-1
G. Fiasse, “Chapter 18: Ethics and Ontology in French Hermeneutics: The Case of Ricœur”, in The Oxford Handbook of Modern French Philosophy, dir. by D. Whistler and M. Sinclair, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2024, 284-299.
F. Pageau, G. Fiasse, L.Nordenfelt, E. Mihailov, “Care of the Older Person and the Value of Human Dignity”, in Bioethics, 2023, 1-8. http://doi.org/10.1111/bioe.13251
G. Fiasse, “Analyse philosophique du dialogue existentiel et du respect de la différence à partir des réflexions de Pierre Claverie et Christian de Chergé”, in Laval théologique et philosophique 71, 1 (février 2021): 45-60. (Published May 16, 2022) https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/ltp/2021-v77-n1-ltp06943/1088389ar/43/1088389ar/
G. Fiasse,“Passions, Imagination, and Ethical Consideration of the Other”, in Paul Ricœur and the Lived Body, ed. by Roger. W.H. Savage, Lanham: Lexington Books, 2020, 17-41.
G. Fiasse, “Aristote : la découverte de l'ami, du bien et de l'altérité”, in La naissance d'autrui. De l'Antiquité à la Renaissance, dir. by Jérôme Lagouanère, Paris: Garnier (Classiques Garnier), 2019, 63-96.
G. Fiasse, “Forgiveness in Ricœur”, in Phenomenology and Forgiveness, ed. by Marguerite La Caze, London: Rowman and Littlefield International, 2018, 85-101.
G. Fiasse, “L'acte d'aimer: tensions entre la capacité, la passivité et l'activité”, in Vulnérabilité et Empathie. Approches phénoménologiques de la relation, dir. by E. Boublil, Paris: Hermann, 2018, 117-139.
G. Fiasse, “La conception éthique et politique du mal chez Paul Ricœur. Conséquences pratiques à l'aune du contexte contemporain”, Science et Esprit 70/3 (2018), 363-379.
Affleck, W., Fiasse, G., Macdonald M.E., “Narrative, Trauma, and Self-Interpretation”, Narrative Inquiry, 2016 (26/1), 108-129.
G. Fiasse, “Ricœur's Hermeneutics of the Self. On the In-Between of the Involuntary and the Voluntary, and Narrative Identity,” Philosophy Today, 58/1 (2014), 39-51.
https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=philtoday&id=philtoday_2014_0058_0001_0039_0051
G. Fiasse, “H. Jonas. L'impact du dix-septième siècle: la signification de la révolution scientifique et technologique,” in H. Jonas, Essais philosophiques. Du credo ancien à l'homme technologique, éd. par D. Bazin et O. Depré, Paris: Vrin, 2013, 75-117.
G. Fiasse, “L'amitié et la fragilité chez Aristote et Thomas d'Aquin,” in Jérusalem, Athènes et Rome. Liber amicorum X. Dijon, ed. by J. Fierens, Bruxelles: Bruylant, 2012, 109-129.
G. Fiasse, “Ricœur's Medical Ethics: the Encounter between the Physician and the Patient,” in Reconceiving Medical Ethics, ed. by C. Cowley, New York: Continuum Press, 2012, 30-42.
G. Fiasse, “Revisiting Jankélévitch's Dichotomy: Between Excusing the Ignorant and Forgiving the Wicked,” Philosophy Today, 56/1 (2012), 3-15.
https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=philtoday&id=philtoday_2012_0056_0001_0003_0015
G. Fiasse, “The Golden Rule and Forgiveness.” In A Passion for the Possible. Thinking with Paul Ricœur, ed. Brian Treanor and Henry Venema, Series: Perspectives in Continental Philosophy, New York: Fordham University Press, 2010, 77-89.
G. Fiasse, “La phronèsis dans l'éthique de Paul Ricœur.” In Le jugement pratique: Autour de la notion de phronèsis, eds. D. Lories et L. Rizzerio, Paris: J. Vrin (Bibliothèque d'histoire de la philosophie), 349-360, 2008.
G. Fiasse, “Forgiveness and the Refusal of Injustice,” Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 82 (2008), 39-48.
https://www.pdcnet.org/pdc/bvdb.nsf/purchase?openform&fp=acpaproc&id=acpaproc_2008_0082_0125_0134
G. Fiasse, “Aristote. Physique,” in Philosophie de la substance. Ousia dans la philosophie grecque des origines à Aristote. Travaux du Centre d'études aristotéliciennes de l'Université de Liège, ed. A. Motte et P. Somville, avec la collaboration de M.-A. Gavray, A. Lefka et D. Seron, Louvain: Peeters (Aristote. Traductions et études), 2008, 209-228.
G. Fiasse, “Asymétrie, gratuité et réciprocité.” In Paul Ricœur. De l'homme faillible à l'homme capable, ed. G. Fiasse, Paris: Presses Universitaires de France (Débats philosophiques), 119-156, 2008.
G. Fiasse, “Droit naturel, finalité, nature et esclavage chez Aristote.” In Droit naturel. Relancer l'histoire?, sous la dir. de L-L Christians, F. Coppens, X. Dijon, P. Favraux, G. Fiasse, J.-M. Longneaux et M. Ruol, Brussels: Bruylant, 133-154, 2008.
G. Fiasse, “Paul Ricœur et le pardon comme au-delà de l’action,” Laval théologique et philosophique 63/2 (2007): 363-376.
https://www.erudit.org/fr/revues/ltp/2007-v63-n2-ltp1952/016790ar.pdf
G. Fiasse, “Le tragique de l'action. Ricoeur et Antigone,” in: Le projet d'Antigone. Parcours vers la mort d'une fille d'Oedipe, ed. Louise Grenier, Montréal: Liber, 2005, 139-153.
G. Fiasse, "Aristote. Ethiques," in Philosophie de la forme. Eidos, Idea, Morphè dans la philosophie grecque, des origines à Aristote, ed. André Motte, Louvain: Peeters (Aristote. Traductions et études), 2004, 508-537.
G. Fiasse, “Les fondements de la philanthropie dans le stoïcisme impérial, deux cas concrets: l’esclavage et la gladiature,” Les Études Philosophiques 4/2002: 527–547.
https://www.puf.com/content/%C3%A9tudes_philosophiques_2002_n%C2%B0_4
G. Fiasse, "Paul Ricoeur, lecteur d'Aristote," in Éthique à Nicomaque VIII-IX, ed. Guy Samama, Paris: Ellipses, 2001, 185-189.
G. Fiasse, "Aristotle's phronesis: A True Grasp of Ends as Well as Means?," The Review of Metaphysics 55 (2001): 323-337.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/20131710?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
G. Fiasse, "La problématique de l'amour-éros dans le stoïcisme: confrontation de fragments, paradoxes et interprétations," Revue Philosophique de Louvain, 97 (1999): 459-482.
http://poj.peeters-leuven.be/content.php?url=article&id=541959&journal_code=RPL
Reviews
G. Fiasse, An encounter with “Charles L. Griswold, Forgiveness. A philosophical exploration. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2007, 268 pages, in PhaenEx. Journal of existential and phenomenological theory and culture 3/2: 2008, 195-208.
Related Links:Phaenex