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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.21464/sp34110

Alterity and Understanding. A Hermeneutical Approach to Levinas

Branko Klun ; University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Theology, Poljanska cesta 4, SI–1000 Ljubljana


Full text: french pdf 387 Kb

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Full text: croatian pdf 387 Kb

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Full text: german pdf 387 Kb

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Full text: english pdf 387 Kb

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Abstract

Levinas’ ethics presupposes radical alterity, which is unthinkable and impossible from the (onto)logical point of view. The alterity of the other is situated beyond understanding and does not tolerate any hermeneutic mediation. This paper, in contrast, tries to show that Levinas’ methodological approach, which relies on a “phenomenology” of the face, cannot do without a hermeneutical reflection. If hermeneutics and ontology (which is related to it) are conceived of in a radically open manner, they no longer possess the oppressive and violent character which Levinas ascribes to them. This leads to the question of whether there exists a possibility for mediation between Levinas’ ethics of alterity and (an ontological) hermeneutics which could correspond to his ethics. Such a mediation would not aim at devising a new totality which would betray the main concerns of Levinas, but rather envisages a deeper awareness of alterity and its consequences for ethics.

Keywords

Emmanuel Levinas; alterity; understanding; hermeneutics; ethics

Hrčak ID:

224041

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/224041

Publication date:

11.6.2019.

Article data in other languages: french croatian german

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