Emmanuel Levinas on ethics as the first truth

[摘要] A brief introduction to the ethical philosophy of Emmanuel LevinasEmmanuel Levinas' ethics is based on the Other/other. He argues that we are in anasymmetrical relationship with our neighbour that pre-destines us with ethicalresponsibility even before consciousness or choice. In the face-to-face encounter an infinityand alterity about our neighbour is revealed, which is irreducible to my ontological graspand thereby compels me to respond to him. It is also through this relation that ourhumanity is released as our solipsistic all-for-myself becomes a being-for-the-other.Furthermore, the I is irreplaceable, thereby making each of us ethically responsible forour neighbour to the point of responsibility for his material misery. This paper introducesthis stance with the aim to underscore it. A brief discussion on the priority of ethics before ontology in thephilosophy of Emmanuel LevinasThe incessant theme of Levinas' writing over 25 years has been 'Ethics as First Philosophy,which is synonymous with 'The Subject's Ethical Responsibility for his Neighbour. Thispaper is a short discussion of this theme of the origin of ethics. Levinas' arguments onpre-original time, the Infinite, language and human corporeality by which he establishesa subjectivity that is not fundamentally determined by intentionality and self-sameness,but by the proximity of our neighbour, will be considered. For Levinas it is this relationto the Other that answers the question of the meaning of being and is also the first word ofwords. First Philosophy is accordingly to be found in the face-to-face which is asubordination of knowledge to a mode of meaning beyond totality.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University