Emmanuel Levinas, Lithuanian-French historian, philosopher, and academic (d. 1995)

Emmanuel Levinas (January 12, 1906 – December 25, 1995), a profoundly influential French philosopher of Lithuanian Jewish descent, is renowned for his groundbreaking contributions across Jewish philosophy, existentialism, and phenomenology. His philosophical endeavor was primarily focused on re-evaluating and re-establishing the fundamental relationship between ethics, metaphysics, and ontology, often placing ethics in a uniquely primary position.

Born in Kaunas, Lithuania (then part of the Russian Empire), Levinas's early life and deep engagement with Jewish tradition profoundly shaped his later thought. He pursued his philosophical studies in France at the University of Strasbourg and later in Freiburg, Germany, where he studied directly under Edmund Husserl, the founder of phenomenology, and Martin Heidegger, whose existential phenomenology significantly influenced but also critically challenged Levinas's own trajectory. His harrowing experience as a prisoner of war during World War II and the tragic loss of his family members in the Holocaust further intensified his commitment to developing an ethical philosophy centered on the vulnerability of the human subject and the infinite responsibility owed to the 'Other'.

Key Philosophical Contributions and Core Concepts

Levinas's work is distinguished by his innovative approach to traditional philosophical problems, leading to a unique synthesis and critique of established schools of thought.

• Engagement with Jewish Philosophy: Far from being merely a scholar of Jewish texts, Levinas actively reinterpreted and invigorated Jewish thought, particularly through his Talmudic commentaries. He sought to demonstrate how ethical monotheism, as embodied in the Jewish tradition, offers a radical alternative to Western philosophy's emphasis on totality and self-sufficiency. He saw the revelation of the Torah not just as law, but as the primordial ethical encounter.
• Critique and Transformation of Existentialism: While initially influenced by existentialist thinkers like Heidegger, Levinas critically diverged from their focus on the individual's being-in-the-world. He questioned the ontological priority given to 'being' (Sein) and argued for the primacy of 'the Other' (l'Autrui) and the ethical encounter. For Levinas, true existence is not found in self-assertion but in the infinite responsibility to the face of another human being.
• Phenomenological Reorientation: Building upon Husserl's method of phenomenology—the study of phenomena as they appear to consciousness—Levinas pushed its boundaries beyond mere cognition. He sought to describe the 'face-to-face' encounter (le visage) as a primary phenomenological event that transcends conceptual understanding and imposes an undeniable ethical demand. This encounter, he argued, is the origin of meaning and subjectivity.

The Primacy of Ethics: Beyond Metaphysics and Ontology

Levinas's most significant and enduring contribution is his assertion that ethics is "first philosophy," preceding and grounding all other philosophical inquiry, including metaphysics (the study of ultimate reality) and ontology (the study of being). He challenged the Western philosophical tradition's long-standing emphasis on understanding being as a totality, which he believed could lead to forms of violence or indifference towards the unique, irreducible individual.

The Face of the Other (Le Visage):

For Levinas, the 'Face' is not merely a physical countenance but a manifestation of the vulnerable, defenceless humanity of the 'Other' that confronts me. It is a command and an appeal that breaks through my egoistic existence, imposing an infinite responsibility. The Face speaks, saying "Thou shalt not kill," and creates an ethical relation before any cognitive understanding or conceptualization.

Infinite Responsibility:

This responsibility is not reciprocal or chosen; it is an asymmetrical, inescapable obligation that arises from the very presence of the Other. It precedes freedom and intentionality, demanding a total self-giving or 'substitution' where I am responsible for the Other even before they are responsible for me. This radical notion challenges traditional concepts of autonomy and reciprocity in ethics.

Transcendence and 'Otherwise than Being':

Levinas used the term 'otherwise than being' (autrèment qu'être) to describe the ethical relation as a transcendence that goes beyond the totality of being and the ego's grasp. This 'beyond essence' or 'beyond being' signifies an openness to something infinitely other, which is not reducible to my understanding or control, and which is revealed in the ethical demand of the Other.

Legacy and Influence

Emmanuel Levinas's profound rethinking of ethics as foundational has left an indelible mark on contemporary philosophy, theology, critical theory, and literary studies. His concepts of 'the Other', 'the Face', and infinite responsibility continue to be crucial for discussions on human rights, intersubjectivity, alterity, and the ethical dimensions of political life.

Frequently Asked Questions About Emmanuel Levinas

What is Emmanuel Levinas primarily known for in philosophy?

Levinas is best known for developing an ethical philosophy where responsibility to the 'Other' is considered the 'first philosophy,' preceding all other forms of knowledge or understanding. He argued that ethics is not a branch of philosophy but its very foundation.

How did his Jewish background influence his philosophy?

His Lithuanian Jewish heritage and deep engagement with Talmudic texts provided a rich source for his ethical philosophy. He reinterpreted concepts like revelation, covenant, and holiness through the lens of ethical responsibility, seeing the ethical encounter as a divine command.

What is 'the Face' in Levinas's philosophy?

In Levinas's work, 'the Face' (le Visage) is not just a physical face but the expression of the Other's defenselessness and absolute uniqueness. It is a direct appeal and a command that interrupts my self-preoccupation, demanding an ethical response and infinite responsibility.