Good infinity : Hegel, Levinas and the accomplishment of ethical life
This study presents a critique of the social and political thought of Emmanuel Levinas. We aim to demonstrate that Levinas' hostile characterisation of Hegel's System serves to disguise a latent 'Hegelian' dimension in his own thought. Levinas' covert Hegelianism has essentially three aspects: first, Levinas, like Hegel, advances a post-critical concept of the infinite; second, his philosophical discourse bears a strong family resemblance to Hegel's speculative logic: and, third, notwithstanding his protests to the contrary, his philosophy exhibits a systematic structure (in the speculative sense of the term). By identifying these speculative motifs in Levinas' work we show, first, that it is possible to subject Levinas to an immanent Hegelian critique and we then proceed to execute it. The dominant trend in Levinasian interpretation, follows Derrida, and tends to overlook the significance of Levinas' concept of society. We aim to show, however, that the notion of a visible ethical community is at the centre of Levinas' philosophy. Moreover, we attempt to demonstrate that Levinasâ concept of an ethical community is ultimately incompatible with the subjective principle underlying modem social and political
Gorman, Anthony James Paul
HM Sociology
Good infinity : Hegel, Levinas and the accomplishment of ethical life. This study presents a critique of the social and political thought of Emmanuel Levinas. We aim to demonstrate that Levinas' hostile characterisation of Hegel's System serves to disguise a latent 'Hegelian' dimension in his own thought. Levinas' covert Hegelianism has essentially three aspects: first, Levinas, like Hegel, advances a post-critical concept of the infinite; second, his philosophical discourse bears a strong family resemblance to Hegel's speculative logic: and, third, notwithstanding his protests to the contrary, his philosophy exhibits a systematic structure (in the speculative sense of the term). By identifying these speculative motifs in Levinas' work we show, first, that it is possible to subject Levinas to an immanent Hegelian critique and we then proceed to execute it. The dominant trend in Levinasian interpretation, follows Derrida, and tends to overlook the significance of Levinas' concept of society. We aim to show, however, that the notion of a visible ethical community is at the centre of Levinas' philosophy. Moreover, we attempt to demonstrate that Levinasâ concept of an ethical community is ultimately incompatible with the subjective principle underlying modem social and political
good infinity hegel levinas accomplishment ethical_life study present critique social_political thought emmanuel_levinas aim levinas hostile characterisation hegel system serve disguise latent hegelian dimension thought levinas covert essentially aspect first levinas like hegel advance post critical concept infinite second philosophical_discourse bear strong family resemblance hegel speculative logic third notwithstanding protest contrary philosophy exhibit systematic structure speculative sense term identify speculative motif levinas work show first possible subject levinas immanent hegelian critique proceed execute dominant trend interpretation follow derrida tend overlook significance levinas concept society aim_show however notion visible ethical community centre levinas philosophy moreover attempt levinas concept ethical community ultimately incompatible subjective principle underlie modem social_political